GB2341941A - Spectacles case - Google Patents

Abstract

A case (10) suitable for spectacles or other articles comprises a semi-rigid lid portion (11) and a semi-rigid body portion (12), where rigid closure means are attached to the peripheries of the two portions so as to allow relative movement of the lid (11) with respect to the body (12) to open and close the case (10). The lid (11) and body (12) may be formed from moulded semi-rigid plastic such as EVA or PP, and the closing means may be formed from injection moulded plastic. The closing means may be provided by an upper band (13) around the periphery of the lid portion (11), and a lower band (14) around the periphery of the body portion (12), with a hinge (15) coupling the two bands together. A clip (16) may also be provided in order to secure the case in a closed position, or a bias means may be included to bias the closing means into a closed position. The closing means may be glued or rivetted to the respective portions of the case (10), and means (17, fig. 5) of attaching the case (1) to a belt may also be provided.

Description

2341941 IMPROVEMENTS IN CASE9 FOR SPECTACLES OR OTHER ARTICLES This

invention relates to cases for spectacles and other articles. In particular, this invention relates to cases for spectacles or other articles made from a semi-rigid material, being a material that retains its shape but is soft and deformable.

In the field of fashion spectacles and sunglasses there has been a move towards the use of soft spectacle cases made from semi-rigid plastic such as EVA or PP which is covered in a nylon fabric, such as lycra.

Such spectacle cases comprise a single piece of moulded plastic which is formed so as to provide a lid and body of the spectacle case joined by a hinge. A zip fastening is sewn into the periphery of the moulding to enable the spectacles case to be zipped shut.

Known soft spectacle cases suffer from a number of disadvantages. Although light weight, soft spectacle cases can be deformed and this may result in the spectacles inside being damaged. Furthermore, where the case deforms so that the'lid overlaps the edge of the body of the case this can cause the zip f astener to catch on the inside lips which makes it difficult to open the case. In addition the shape of the case makes the stitching of a zip fastener to the moulded body dif f icult to mechanise and thus increases costs.

The present invention is made in view of the above 2 problems and aims to provide a sof t spectacles case which is easy to manufacture and alleviates at least some of the problems described above.

In accordance with the present invention there is 5 provided a soft spectacles case comprising:

lid; body portion and a rigid closure band which is attached to both the lid and the body portion, the closure band being hinged to enable the spectacles case to be opened and closed.

Further aspects and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent as described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a soft spectacles case of the prior art;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a soft spectacles case in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spectacles case of the present invention taken along the line 3-3 shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the spectacles case of Figure 2 in an open configuration; Figure 5 is a rear view of the spectacles case of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a soft spectacles case in accordance with a second embodiment of the 3 present invention.

Figure 1 shows a known soft spectacles case 1 which comprises a single moulded piece of semi-rigid plastic which is moulded to form both the lid 2 of the spectacles case 1 and the body 3 of the spectacles case and is f aced with fabric, e. g. nylon. The lid 2 and the body 3 of the spectacles case 1 are joined together at the rear of the spectacles case (not shown). Stitched to the periphery of both the lid 2 and the body 3 of the spectacles case 1 is a zip fastener 4. The zip fastener 4 enables the spectacles case to be secured in a closed position.

The spectacles case 1 shown in Figure 1 is arranged to be attached to a belt by a fastener (not shown). The spectacles case has a curved iner surface which is arranged to rest against the body of a wearer and a more sharply curved outer surface which faces away from the wearer when the spectacles case is attached to a belt. These two surfaces are connected by sharply curved corners. The zip fastener 4 is stitched directly to the lid 2 and the body 3 of the spectacles case 1 along the periphery following curved shape formed by the cone 1 except for where the lid 2 and the body 3 are connected.

This curved shape makes the stitching of the zip fastener 4 difficult to mechanise.

The zip fastener 4 of the prior art also suffers from the problem that as the case is made from a semi rigid material the lip of the lid 2 has a tendency to 4 protrude over the top of the body 3. When this occurs it becomes difficult to close the zip fastener 4 as the zip fastener has a tendency to catch on the lip of the lid 2. In addition the twisted configuration of the zip fastener 5 is unsightly and when the spectacles case is zipped closed in this configuration this exacerbates the tendency of the spectacles case to def orm which may damage the contents of the spectacles case.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sof t spectacles case in accordance with the present invention. The spectacles case 10 of the present invention comprises a lid portion 11 made from a piece of moulded semi-rigid plastic such as EVA or PP with a body portion 12 made from a separate piece of moulded semi-rigid plastic.

Both the lid portion 11 and the body portion 12 are covered in a nylon material such as lycra. The lid portion 11 and the body portion 12 are joined to an upper band 13 and a lower band 14 respectively. The upper band 13 and lower band 14 are both made f rom a rigid material, such as a rigid plastic with the bands being formed by injection moulding. The bands 13 and 14 are attached to the periphery of the lid portion 11 and a body portion 12 by glue or by being rivetted into place. 25 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spectacles case of the present invention taken along the line 3-3 shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows that the upper band 13 and the lower band 14 are connected to each other by a hinge 15. The hinge allows the upper band to be moved relative to the lower band so as to open and close the spectacles case 10. On the side of the spectacles case opposite to that where the hinge 15 is positioned a portion of the upper band 13 extends so as to overlap the lower band 14 to form a clip 16. The overlapping clip 16 secures the spectacles case in a closed position. When the clip 16 is eased away from the lower band 14 the spectacles case 10 can be opened. Also shown in Figure 3 is a fastener 17 provided next to the hinge 15 which enables the spectacles case 1 to be attached to a belt.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the spectacle case of the present invention in an open configuration.

In this position the upper band 13 is rotated about the hinge 15 so as to allow spectacles or other articles to be placed in the body portion 12 of the spectacles case.

Figure 5 shows a rear view of the spectacles case of the present invention. In this view the manner in which the hinge 15 joins the upper band 13 to the lower band 14 is apparent as is the fastener 17 for attaching the spectacles case 1 to a belt.

The provision of the rigid bands 13,14 overcomes the tendency of the prior art spectacles case to deform. As the bands 13 and 14 are rigid they will always meet at the same position to close the spectacles case. The bands 13 and 14 also act as reinforcement to prevent the 6 spectacles case from accidentally being deformed.

In the spectacles case 10 of the present invention the lid portion 11 and the body portion 12 are no longer directly connected therefore the shape of the periphery of both the lid portion 11 and the body portion 12 comprise complete ovals. This shape makes it easier to attach the bands 13 and 14 by glueing or rivetting and thus eliminates the need to use stitching. The cost of manufacture of the spectacles case is therefore reduced.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a soft spectacles case in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 6 the same reference numerals are used as in Figure 2 to indicate the same parts of the spectacles case. I accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the spectacles case is shaped so as to be able to rest upon a flat surface rather than to be worn by a user attached to a belt. As has been described in relation to the previous embodiment, the spectacles case comprises a lid portion 11 made from a moulded semi-rigid plastic and a body portion 12 made from a separate piece of moulded semirigid plastic in lid portion 12 and the body portion 12 being joined to an upper band 13 and a lower band 14, respectively. The upper band 13 and lower band 14 being made from a rigid material. In Figure 6 the spectacles case is shown in a close configuration with a clip portion 16 of the upper band shown extending so as to 7 overlap the lower band 14 for securing the spectacles case in a closed position.

Although reference has been made in the specification to the use of semirigid and rigid plastics it will be appreciated that any semi-rigid or rigid material could be used to manufacture the spectacles case of the present invention. Although reference has been made to the means for securing the spectacles case in a closed position being a clip it will be appreciated that other means of securing the spectacles case in a closed position could be used such as providing a spring-biassed hinge biassing the lid in a closed position.

1

Claims (10)

8 CLAIMS:

1. A spectacles case comprising a semirigid lid portion; a semi-rigid body portion; and rigid closure means attached to the peripheries of said lid portion and said body portion, said closure means being such as to allow relative movement of said lid portion to said body portion to open and close said spectacles case.

2. A spectacles case in accordance with claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises an upper rigid band attached to said lid portion; a lower rigid band attached to said body portion and a hinge connecting said upper and lower rigid bands so as to allow relative movement of said lid 15 portion to said body portion.

3. A spectacles case in accordance with claim 2, wherein said closure means further comprises clip means arranged to secure said spectacles case in a closed 20 position.

4. A apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said closure means further comprises bias means to bias said closure means in a closed position where said upper band rests against said lower band.

5. A spectacles case in accordance with any preceding 9 claim, wherein said rigid closure means is rivetted to said peripheries of said lid portion and body portion.

6. A spectacles case in accordance with any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said closure means is glued to the peripheries of said lid portion and said body portion.

7. A spectacles case in accordance with any preceding claim further comprising attachment means for attaching the spectacles case to a belt.

8. A spectacles case in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said semi-rigid lid portion and said semirigid body portion are made from DVA.

9. A spectacles case in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said rigid closure means is made from injection moulded plastic.

10. A spectacles case substantially as described with reference to any of Figukes 2-6.