GB2212293A - Spectacle retaining cord having integral noose assemblies - Google Patents
Spectacle retaining cord having integral noose assemblies Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2212293A GB2212293A GB8826150A GB8826150A GB2212293A GB 2212293 A GB2212293 A GB 2212293A GB 8826150 A GB8826150 A GB 8826150A GB 8826150 A GB8826150 A GB 8826150A GB 2212293 A GB2212293 A GB 2212293A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- noose
- strand
- cord
- spectacle
- spectacle cord
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C11/00—Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C3/00—Special supporting arrangements for lens assemblies or monocles
- G02C3/003—Arrangements for fitting and securing to the head in the position of use
Abstract
A spectacle cord having an integral noose assembly 30 of individually adjustable size at each end of a flexible strand 28. Tension on the cord from the spectacles tends to tighten rather than loosen the grip of each noose on the spectacle frame, so that the spectacles are less likely to be wrenched free from the spectacle cord. The size of either noose can quickly be changed (by feeding through more of the strand, or withdrawing some of the strand) without significant damage to the noose assembly or reduction in its future performance. The coil is secured, preferably by fusing, at its end remote from the outer noose so that the securement is largely isolated from flexure and consequent premature failure. <IMAGE>
Description
IMPROVEMENTS IN SPECTACLE CORDS
This invention relates to spectacle cords, and in particular to spectacle cords comprising a flexible strand having at each end a noose assembly including a noose of adjustable size.
Spectacle cords have been used over many years, principally so that the wearer's spectacles, when not immediately required e.g.
for reading, can be hung loosely around the neck; the spectacles are thus always to hand, and both hands can be kept free. The strand, being flexible, can conform readily to the shape of the neck or of clothing e.g. the collar of a blouse or coat, and thus is not uncomfortable to wear, and since the strand is conventionally of substantial length it can be passed over the user's head without e.g. disturbing the hair. Each noose is made so that it can be adjusted by the wearer in order that the spectacle cord can be fitted to any size of spectacle. frame, and in order that the spectacle cord can be temporarily removed from the spectacle frame, perhaps to be replaced by a different spectacle cord.
One known design of spectacle cord has at each end of the strand a noose assembly comprising a flexible O-ring, a ferrule and a gripping plate. The noose is obtained by squeezing the flexible O-ring into a "figure of eight", to form an outer noose and an inner noose. Each OL noose can be slid along a side member of a spectacle frame, whilst each inner noose is connected to the strand. Usually the O-ring is of rubber or plastics, and it is squeezed by a metal or plastics ferrule which has a limited freedom to slide over the O-ring to adjust the size of the outer noose.A disadvantage of this design is that it incorporates metal, which has to be treated to limit or prevent corrosion from body fluids, which can make it unsightly and unhygeinic to wear; itis expensive to manufacture, requiring not only the assembly of the treated brass ferrule upon the O-ring, but also the feeding of the strand end through the inner loop - following which the strand end is connected to the strand by a treated metal plate rolled around the strand and the strand end; at least four separate components are used (the flexible strand, the O-ring, the ferrule and a gripping plate); and different sizes may need to be stocked if for instance the customer requires a strand of different thickness or diameter.Another disadvantage is that if the strand end frays, it can work free from within the gripping plate so that the O-ring is no longer retained, and the spectacle cord is then no longer serviceable. Furthermore, the ferrule can slip, not being self-tightening, whereupon the grip of the outer noose is reduced, allowing inadvertent separation of the spectacle cord from the spectacle frame. The outer noose has only a limited adjustment range, and so may not be suited to users who sometimes retain their spectacles in the open condition hung by the ends of the side members, and at other times in the closed (folded) condition hung adjacent the side member pivots; and such users who nevertheless persist may find that their changes of outer noose size results in frequent unwanted slippage of the ferrule.
In an alternative known design, which however still uses an
O-ring surmounted by a ferrule, the strand is of a fusible material and the strand end after being passed through the inner noose is laid alongside the strand and heat sealed thereto; the disadvantages of this design are that it still requires the manufacturer to stock at least three separate components (strand,
O-ring, ferrule) in a number cf sizes, and that the strand to either side of the heat seal is weakened when heated to the temperature required for fusing and will often fail prematurely when flexed in use.
It is an object of the present invention to remove or reduce these disadvantages. Thus according to one feature of our invention we provide a spectacle cord comprising a flexible strand and a noose assembly including a noose of adjustable size at each end of the strand, the noose assembly being integral with the strand.Preferably at least part of each noose assembly is of a fusible material, permitting a formed noose assembly to be heat sealed against release, though usefully the spectacle cord as a whole i.e. both the strand and each noose assembly (configured as an extension of the strand) is of a single flexible and fusible material e.g. braided polypropylene cord, though in an alternative embodiment the spectacle cord includes a mixture of materials; in a preferred arrangement the cord has at each end an end length of which part is looped to form a noose and of which part is wound as a coil around an adjacent length of the strand, whereby the adjacent length can slide within the coil to permit adjustment of the size of the noose; in alternative embodiments, the strand can be formed during manufacture with for instance end lengths of different dimensions, material or colour and/or with portions of each end length made of or including materials more easily fused together than the material of the strand or made of a mixture of materials only some of which may be fusible.
Each free end of the cord can be suitably secured after the respective end portion of the strand has been formed into a coil, to prevent the coil from unwinding. Thus according to a further feature of our invention we provide a method of making a spectacle cord which includes at each respective end of a flexible strand a noose assembly the steps of bending an end portion of the strand so that the portion which is bent and an adjacent length of the strand form an outer noose, bending back upon itself some of the said end portion to form an inner noose, winding some or all of the remainder of the end portion as a coil about part of the outer noose and thus about at least part of the said adjacent length of the strand and of said inner noose, and securing the coil against unwinding.Usefully the said remainder of the end portion is wound to form more than one full turn, conveniently up to ten full turns. Preferably the free end is fed through the inner noose before being secured, as by heat welding to help prevent fraying of the free end i.e. being heat sealed to the inner noose. If required the free end may be cut to size concurrently with the heat sealing. Preferably the internal diameter of the coil is selected to permit extra lengths of the strand to slide easily therethrough to increase the size of the outer noose, but to inhibit pulling therethrough (in the opposite relative direction) of the outer noose itself.
The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig.1 is a perspective view of spectacles carrying a spectacle
cord of known design:
Fig.2 is a plan view of a spectacle cord according to the
invention; and
Fig.3 is a schematic view showing the manner one end of a
flexible strand is formed into a noose assembly.
Spectacles 2 have side members 4. Spectacle cord 6 comprises a flexible strand 8, of a length e.g. 60 cm. to fit loosely around user's neck, preferably so that the spectacles when not in use can rest against the wearer's chest, for instance in the open condition as seen in Fig.1 hanging by the ends of the side members 4; and a noose assembly 10. Included in the noose assembly 10 is an O-ring 12 which is squeezed by a ferrule 14 into an outer noose 16 and an inner noose 18. Outer noose 16 slidably fits around the respective side member 4, the size of the outer noose being adjustable by movement of the ferrule.
During assembly of the spectacle cord 6 the free end 20 of the flexible strand 8 is passed through the inner noose 18, before being secured to a section of the strand by rolled gripping plate 22.
The spectacle cord of Figs 2/3 includes a flexible strand 28 of fusible material, with at each end a noose assembly 30 which during assembly has a respective end section 32 bent back upon itself to form a return length 34 and is then again bent back upon itself to form a re-return length 36. Section 32 and return length 34 form an outer noose 38, whilst return length 34 and re-return length 36 form an inner noose 40. The remaining length of the end section 30 beyond the re-return length 36 is wound around at least part of the return length 34 and re-return length 36 to form a closely wrapped coil 42 within which the strand 28 can slide to adjust the size of (outer) noose 38. The coil 42 has five turns or windings, but in alternative embodiment the number of turns is in the range 1 to 10.The free end 44 of the strand 28 extends through and is heat sealed to the inner noose 40, both to help prevent the coil unwinding and to help prevent the free end 44 from fraying.
The internal diameter of the coil will preferably be selected to be greater than the diameter of the strand (to permit ready pull-through of the strand to vary the size of the outer noose) but less than twice the diameter of the strand (to inhibit pull-through of the outer noose return length 34 as well as of end section 32).
In one alternative embodiment an abutment is formed by a knot on the end lengths of the strand forming the noose; and in a further alternative embodiment, a short hollow retention member, preferably transparent, can be fitted around the end lengths of the strand (forming each noose), to prevent or help prevent the noose being pulled through the coil.
Preferably the strand and each noose assembly is formed into a spectacle cord after a suitable length, typically 60cm, has been cut from a roll of braided fusible fibres, of a diameter in the range 1 .Omm to 3.Omm.
In an alternative embodiment, the strand is self coloured, the colour being selected as a fashion accessory to match the user's spectacles; for sun glasses, which are often mislaid on the beach (as when they become buried in sand), the spectacle cord may be of a colour selected to contrast with the sand, so that such buried glasses may more easily be found.
It will be understood from the showing of the embodiment of
Fig.2/3 that whilst the spectacles are being worn, a part of the flexible strand 28 will loosely hang around the wearer's neck.
This may not be to the liking of all users, some of whom may prefer an tighter arrangement, particularly an arrangement which can help retain the spectacles in position even when the wearer bends forward or looks down. Thus in an alternative embodiment two sections of the strand 28 can be fitted within and connected by a gripper, the gripper being movable to shorten the respective portions of the strand between the gripper and each noose assembly until those portions fit as tightly as desired against the wearer's hair or head.The gripper can be fitted on the strand sections prior to one or both noose assemblies being formed as described above; or it can be fitted after both noose assemblies have already been formed, in which case the gripper can thereafter be movably retained on the sections of the flexible strand by a keeper, the keeper having at least one dimension greater that the internal dimension of the gripper and being located on the strand at a position remote from the said sections, in order to prevent dislodgement of the gripper from the spectacle cord. The strand may be extensible, and/or in the form of a flat band, for users who find such alternatives more comfortable. In an alternative embodiment, without the separate keeper, the strand being knotted.
An advantage of our arrangement of spectacle cord is that tension on the cord from the spectacles tends to tighten rather than loosen the grip of the outer noose on the spectacle frame, so that the spectacles are less likely to be wrenched free from the spectacle cord. Another advantage is that the size of the outer noose can quickly be changed (by feeding through more of the strand) without significant damage to the noose assembly or a reduction in its future performance. Yet a further advantage is that the coil is secured at its end remote from the outer noose and so is largely isolated from flexure of the outer noose, and it is therefor better protected against failure due to material fatigue at the securement position - often in fact the noose assembly will move bodily relative to the strand due to the rigidity of the secured coil. Because the coil is secured remote from the any flexure at the outer noose, it can if desired be secured mechanically as by a metal or plastic clasp, or by a knot e.g. a half-hitch; or chemically as by an adhesive; as well as by a material self-weld or fusing.
Claims (26)
1. A spectacle cord comprising a flexible strand having at
each end a noose assembly which includes a noose of
adjustable size, each said noose assembly being integral
with the strand, each noose assembly having parts which are
heat secured together.
2. A spectacle cord as claimed in Claim 1 in which each noose
assembly is configured as an extension of the strand, the
strand and each said noose assembly being of a single
flexible and fusible material.
3. A spectacle cord as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which
the strand is substantially non-extensible.
4. A spectacle cord as claimed in Claim 3 in which the
material is braided polypropylene cord.
5. A spectacle cord as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 in
which at each end of the strand there is a strand end
length of which part is looped to form a noose and of which
part is wound as a coil around an adjacent length of the
strand, whereby the said adjacent length can slide within
the coil to provide a noose of adjustable size.
6. A spectacle cord as claimed in Claim 5 in which the coil
includes more than one but fewer than ten full turns of the
strand.
7. A spectacle cord as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which
each said end length includes a free terminal end of the
strand, the said free terminal end being secured to that
one of the turns furthest from said respective noose.
8. A spectacle cord as claimed in Claim 7 in which the said
free terminal end is heat fused to the said one of the
turns.
9. A spectacle cord as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 in
which the internal diameter of each of the turns is greater
than the diameter of the strand, but in which the internal
diameter of at least one of the turns is less than twice
the diameter of the strand, to prevent the noose itself
being pulled through the coil.
10. A spectacle cord as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 in
which each said noose of adjustable size carries an
abutment member, the abutment member being of a size to
prevent the noose itself being pulled through the coil.
11. A spectacle cord as claimed in Claim 10 in which the
abutment member is a flexible transparent tube, of length
less than 2mm, and surrounding part of the noose.
12. A spectacle cord as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11 in
which the strand is of substantially circular
cross-section, with a diameter in the range lmm to 3mm.
13. A spectacle cord as claimed in any of Claims 1 - 12 in
which a gripper is fitted around two sections of the
strand, the gripper being movable along the strand to alter
the length of strand between each respective noose assembly
and the said gripper.
14. A spectacle cord as claimed in Claim 13 in which the
gripper is a hollow tube.
15. A spectacle cord as claimed in Claim 14 in which a retainer
is fitted to the strand, the gripper being between the
retainer and each said noose assembly, the retainer having
at least one dimension greater than the internal dimension
of the gripper to prevent dislodgement of the gripper from
the strand.
16. A method of making a spectacle cord comprising a flexible
strand, with at each respective end of the flexible strand
a noose assembly, which includes the steps of bending an
end portion of the strand so that the portion which is bent
and an adjacent length of the strand form an outer noose,
bending back upon itself some of the said end portion to
form an inner noose, winding some or all of the remainder
of the end portion as a coil about part of the outer noose
and thus about at least part of the said adjacent length of
the strand and of said inner noose, and securing the coil
against unwinding.
17. A method as claimed in Claim 16 in which the said remainder
of the end portion is wound to form more than one full
turn, but less than ten full turns.
18. A method as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17, in which the
said end portion has a terminal free end, the terminal free
end being fed through the inner noose before being secured
thereto.
19. A method as claimed in Claim 18 in which the terminal free
end is secured to the inner noose by heat fusing.
20. A method as claimed in Claim 19 in which concurrently with
said fusing of the terminal free end and the inner noose,
the free end is cut such that no non-fused terminal end
section remains.
21. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 20 in which the
coil has an internal diameter selected to permit extra
lengths of the strand to slide easily therethrough to
increase and decrease the size of the outer noose, but to
inhibit pulling therethrough in the opposite relative
direction of the outer noose itself.
22. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 21 in which the
noose at the other end of the strand is similarly but
subsequently formed.
23. A spectacle cord constructed and arranged substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
24. A method of making a spectacle cord substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
25. Spectacles with a pair of side pieces and with a spectacle
cord as claimed in any of Claims 1-15 or 23, a noose being
around a respective side piece
26. Spectacles with a spectacle cord made as claimed in any of
Claims 16-22 or 24.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB878726341A GB8726341D0 (en) | 1987-11-10 | 1987-11-10 | Spectacle cords |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8826150D0 GB8826150D0 (en) | 1988-12-14 |
| GB2212293A true GB2212293A (en) | 1989-07-19 |
| GB2212293B GB2212293B (en) | 1991-06-26 |
Family
ID=10626744
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB878726341A Pending GB8726341D0 (en) | 1987-11-10 | 1987-11-10 | Spectacle cords |
| GB8826150A Expired - Fee Related GB2212293B (en) | 1987-11-10 | 1988-11-08 | Improvements in spectacle cords |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB878726341A Pending GB8726341D0 (en) | 1987-11-10 | 1987-11-10 | Spectacle cords |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB8726341D0 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5092668A (en) * | 1990-06-21 | 1992-03-03 | Welch Sondra L | Eyeglass cord retainer apparatus |
| FR2678078A1 (en) * | 1991-06-24 | 1992-12-24 | Girard Edouart | Device for attaching the cords, bands and chains of spectacles to the sides of spectacles |
| US5507075A (en) * | 1994-10-05 | 1996-04-16 | Tillstrom; Carl R. | Eyeglass strap retainer device |
| WO1998040780A1 (en) * | 1997-03-11 | 1998-09-17 | Alain Denis | Device for retaining a pair of spectacles |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11793297B1 (en) | 2022-12-06 | 2023-10-24 | That Girl Amber, Llc | Sensory-friendly eyewear holder |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3397026A (en) * | 1964-11-19 | 1968-08-13 | Spina Joseph | Adjustable eyeglass retaining strap |
| US3791721A (en) * | 1972-10-04 | 1974-02-12 | J Helfrich | Goggles |
| EP0075260A1 (en) * | 1981-09-19 | 1983-03-30 | Dr. Eugen Beck KG | Spectacles with safety strap |
-
1987
- 1987-11-10 GB GB878726341A patent/GB8726341D0/en active Pending
-
1988
- 1988-11-08 GB GB8826150A patent/GB2212293B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3397026A (en) * | 1964-11-19 | 1968-08-13 | Spina Joseph | Adjustable eyeglass retaining strap |
| US3791721A (en) * | 1972-10-04 | 1974-02-12 | J Helfrich | Goggles |
| EP0075260A1 (en) * | 1981-09-19 | 1983-03-30 | Dr. Eugen Beck KG | Spectacles with safety strap |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5092668A (en) * | 1990-06-21 | 1992-03-03 | Welch Sondra L | Eyeglass cord retainer apparatus |
| FR2678078A1 (en) * | 1991-06-24 | 1992-12-24 | Girard Edouart | Device for attaching the cords, bands and chains of spectacles to the sides of spectacles |
| US5507075A (en) * | 1994-10-05 | 1996-04-16 | Tillstrom; Carl R. | Eyeglass strap retainer device |
| WO1998040780A1 (en) * | 1997-03-11 | 1998-09-17 | Alain Denis | Device for retaining a pair of spectacles |
| FR2760854A1 (en) * | 1997-03-11 | 1998-09-18 | Alain Denis | UNIVERSAL SELF-LOCKING GLASS CORD |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2212293B (en) | 1991-06-26 |
| GB8826150D0 (en) | 1988-12-14 |
| GB8726341D0 (en) | 1987-12-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19961108 |