AU2003200357A1 - Lock - Google Patents

Description

03/02/2083 15:15 +61398867686 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD

PATENT

"Lock" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method ofperfouning it known to me: 03/02/2063 15:15 +61398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 06 2

LOCK

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a lock. In a particular non-limiting aspect it relates to a lock which may be used as a security device for glasses having foldable arms.

Background of the Invention Sunglasses, because of the skills of marketers and leaders in fashion have gone beyond being devices for reducing the amount of light which reaches the eyes. They are now considered in many circles to be an important fashion item.

As a result of their status as fashion items, they are available in a wide range of different styles and colours- However because they have become an important fashion item, there are many designer sunglasses on the market which are extremely expensive. Their costs may typically run into the hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately, because of their high cost and easy portability, they have become a target for thieves who may use them themselves or can on-sell the glasses readily to make an easy profit.

Thus, there is a need for an approach which gives the owners of valuable sunglasses, or any other types of personal glasses, some degree of security against theft.

Furthermore, the approach taken should be one which should not unduly restrict the portability of sunglasses when not in use.

03/02/2003 15:15 +61398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 07 3 Disclosure of the InVenMtion Thus it is proposed that the secur-ity of glasses be improved by using a lockc to render the glasses unusable when locked. This should act as a deterrent to thieves as there is no point in stealing unusable sunglasses.

Thus the invention Provides a lock for glasss having foldable arms and a nose rest comprising, a 'holding memiber movable between a locking and an unlocking conafiguration, to a body member attached to the holding member, and locking means for jointly locking the body member and holding member in the locking configuration, wherein the holding member is adapted to hold the glasses by the nose rest and the body mnember is adapted to hold the foldable arms in a folded configuration when the holding member and body member are in the locking configuiration.

Suitably, the holding member may be pivotably connected to the body member. It may include projecting means. The projecting means may pivot towards the nose rest so that the3' project into the nose rest when the lock is in the locking configuration.

Suitably, the body member may comprise two components. The two components may comprise a forward member and a rearward member. The forward member may be pivotally attached to the holding member at one end. It may be attached to one end of the rearward member at its other end.

The rearward member and holding member may be joined to each other at their free ends. This may be by way of a pin provided on one of the two members which slips into a recess provided on the other of the two members.

3o The join between the forward and rearward members may be associated with locking means. The locking means may comprise a comnbination lock or a key operated tumbler lock.

83/02/2883 15:15 +61398867688 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 88 4 Where the locking means comprise a combination lock, it may include a plurality of circular rotatable numbered keying members for operating the lock.

The locking means may include a pin which projects from one of the members to fit into a bore provided on the other of the members. The bore may comprise the barrel of the combination lock.

Preferred aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows an open lock and a pair of sunglasses; and s1 Figure 2 shows the lock of Figure 1 locking the sunglasses.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The various integers identified by the numerals in the drawings are listed in the following integer list.

Integer List 1 Lock 3 Sunglasses Foldable arms 6 Frame 7 Hinge 9 Nose rest 11 Nose pads 13 Bridge Holding member 03/02/2003 15:15 +51398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 09 17 Body member 19 Forward member 21 Rearward member 23 Hinge 525 Projection 27 pin 29 Combination lock 31 Rotatable keying member 33 flarrel/bore I0 35 Pin 37 B~ore 39 Clip 41 Ring 43 Key 45 Pouch 46 Identi-fication tag Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a lock 1 for sunglasses 3 or any other form of glasses with folding arms which have the general configuraion of the sunglasses shown mn the drawings.

The sunglasses have foldable arms 5 which are attached to a frame 6 via hinges 7.

A nose rest 9 is formed in the middle of the fow~ard part of the sunglasses and is defined by the nose pads 11 and bridge 13.

The lock 1 comprises two main components, namely a holding member 15 and a body member 17 which may be locked together to form a loop configuration as shown in Figure 2.

The body member in turn comprises a forward member 19 and a rearward memnber 21.

03/02/2003 15:15 +61398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 6 The various members may be comprised of any material which is sufficiently rigid to resist breakage or deformation by manual force. They may comprise composite materials. For example, they may comprise a central rigid core or frame made of a strong material such as steel and an outer skin of a more decorativeD or tactile material which is comfortable to hold such as rubber, The covering material may be thin or thick and may be moulded in a range of different thicknesses and shapes to give a pleasing aesthetic effect.

The holding member and body member are joined by a hinge 23 to allow the two to be pivoted with respect to each other as is shown in Figure 1.

A proj ection 25 forms part of the holding member and is arranged so that it fits between the nose pads I I of the nose rest in the mannar illustrated in Figure 2 when the lock is locked.

A combination lock 29 including a number of rotatable keying members 31 is provided at one end of the forward member. The keying members include combination numbers around their periphery as is. known in the art.

The combination lock includes a barrel 33 into which the pin 35 projecting from one end of the rearward member 21 fits.

Thus, the rearward member may be slid towards and away fr-om the forward member during locking and unlocking.

One end of the holding member 15 is also provided with a pin 27. This pin Is aan~ged so that it fits into the bore 37 provided at an end of the rearward member when the sunglasses are to be locked.

03/02/2003 15:15 +61398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 11 7 The lock may be provided with a number of optional features such as a clip 39 for hanging from an article of clothing such as a belt or pocket and a ring 41 from which keys 43 or a pouch 45 may be hung.

An identification tag 46 including a unique identification number or other identification means such as the name of the owner may be provided on the lock as well.

It is to be understood that the word comprising as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form ie. use of the word comprising does not exclude the addition of other elements, It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A lock for glasses having foldable arms and a nose rest comprising, a holding member movable between a locking and an unlocking configuration, a body member attached to the holding member, and locking means for jointly locking the body member and holding member in the locking configuration, wherein the holding member is adapted to hold the glasses by the nose rest and the to body member is adapted to hold the foldable arms in a folded configuration when the holding member and body member are in the locking configuration.

2. A lock according to claim 1 wherein the holding member is pivotally connected to the body member and includes projecting means for fitting in the nose rest when in the locking configuration.

3. A lock according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the body member comprises a forward member and a rearward member, the rearward member having a first end attachable to a first end of the holding member and a second end attachable to a first end of the forward member, the body member and holding member together forming a complete loop when they are in the locking configuration.

4. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locking means comprise a combination lock operated by a plurality of circular rotatable numbered keying members or a key operated tumbler lock.

A lock according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locking means comprise a first pin projecting from one of the members which fits into a first bore provided on another one of the members.

6. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an end of the holding member and an end of the body member are joined by a second pin projecting 03/02/2883 15:15 +61398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 13 9 from one of the body member and holding member, the pin being receivable in a second bore provided in the other of the body member and holding member.

7. A lock according to anyone of the preceding claims comprising a clip on the body member for securing the lock to an article of clothing or other item.

8. A lock according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 3rd day of February 2003 Kris Rose by his patent attorneys Morcom Pemat