Eyewear retention device

• US 7,255,436 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Tracy
• Original Assignee: Michael Tracy
• Inventors: Tracy, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang; Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US11/140,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20060268222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 351/156, 351/157, 351/158, 351/41, 245/2, 220/913, 242/380, 242/402
• US Class Current: 351/155
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/247 Means for attaching eyewear arrangements for supporting by headgear G02C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 3/02 Arrangements for supporting by headgear

Abstract

An eyeglass retention device that allows eyewear to be securely worn and alternately securely retained on headwear. This device provides the above in a sporty, practical, yet low profile manner for all types of eyewear users, and with all types of headwear.

Claims

1. An eyewear retention device comprising:

a pair of cords, each having an exterior end and an interior end;

an eyewear frame attachment portion at each said exterior end of each of said pair of cords;

a pair of housing means for respectively anchoring the respective interior end of each of said cords, and for housing a given portion of said cords;

a pair of headwear attachment means for respectively attaching each of said housing means to an article of headwear;

a winding mechanism pair, each respectively disposed within each of said housing means, for tensioning said cords, and for drawing said cords into and out of the housing means, said winding mechanism pair each providing a substantially constant inwardly-directed tension of said cords; and

said pair of housing means each further comprising a rotary mechanism for providing rotation of a portion of said housing means relative to said headwear attachment means.

2. The retention device according to claim 1, wherein each said rotary mechanism for providing rotation of a portion of said housing means relative to said headwear attachment means further contains at least one aperture, said aperture being structured in conjunction with rotary mechanism so as to permit a 360°

rotation in a substantially planar fashion about an axis, and so as to further permit significant deviations from said 360°

rotation in a substantially planar fashion about an axis, thereby permitting movement about at least one additional axis.

3. The retention device according to claim 2, wherein the cord has a length between 4 and 36 inches.

4. The retention device according to claim 1, wherein said winding mechanisms includes a torsion spring that is substantially in equilibrium when the respective cord is wound about an inner reel such that the cord is generally contained within the winding mechanism, whereby the torsion spring exerts a substantially uniform retracting force when the strap is extended outside of the reel.

5. The retention device according to claim 4, wherein said rotary mechanism is an axle and hub type.

6. The retention device according to claim 5, wherein said headwear attachment means is a clip type.

7. The retention device according to claim 5, wherein said headwear attachment means is a headwear material integrated type.

8. The retention device according to claim 5, wherein said aperture is formed according to a substantially circular or elongated opening on said rotary mechanism.

9. The retention device according to claim 4, wherein said rotary mechanism is a peripheral track type.

10. The retention device according to claim 9, wherein said headwear attachment means is a hook and loop type.