JP3065399U - Improvement of case for articles such as glasses - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An eyeglass case comprising an elongated tubular main body having a first lid at one end and a second lid at the other end. Both lids are movably attached to the elongated body by hinges. A leaf spring is provided for biasing the lids to the closed position, and the lids face the body in this closed position. The leaf spring is located off center and when the lids are in a fully open position, the leaf spring does not bias the lids toward the closed position.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 This invention relates to a case for articles such as eyeglasses. The invention is particularly concerned with cases for articles, such as eyeglasses, designed to open at the short end.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an eyeglass case has a “shell” shape. The shell-like case has a set of rectangular portions hinged along one of the longitudinal sides of the case so that one portion can move relative to the other. The hinge portion is spring-biased so that the eyeglass case can be closed. The eyeglass case is opened by separating the longitudinal edge of the main body portion on the side opposite to the hinge portion and rotating one of the two around the hinge portion.

[0003] In recent years, there has been a movement towards a spectacle case consisting of a body part holding the spectacles and a lid part, in which case the lid part has the spectacle case around its shorter end Hinged to open. In one type of eyeglass case that opens at these ends, the lid is secured in a closed position by a catch. When a person tries to open this glasses case, he or she presses a button visible on the outside of the glasses case, thereby releasing the catch and opening the lid. Such a button can be identified visually and / or tactilely at the open end.

[0004] The problem with eyeglass cases that open at the end, including fixing the lid of the eyeglass case closed by the catch means, is that the button that is pressed to open the lid requires that the button be pressed from the surface of the body of the eyeglass case. It is a prominent thing. Therefore, when the spectacle case is stored in the pocket, the protruding button can be pushed from above the clothing.

To overcome the problems associated with protruding activation buttons, open-ended eyeglass cases have been proposed in which the lid is biased toward a closed position by a spring in a hinge. In such an eyeglass case, since the lid is biased toward the closed position, it is no longer necessary to provide a catch for holding the closed lid, so that it is inferior to providing a button. Such an eyeglass case can be opened by simply pulling on the lid to overcome the force of the biased spring. An advantage of the design in which the lid is spring-biased towards the closed position is that the eyeglass case can be formed more symmetrically since there is no need to provide a button, which is aesthetically pleasing. However, the lack of a button to indicate which end of the spectacle case is open makes it difficult to determine visually and / or tactilely which end of the spectacle case opens. Become. This problem is exacerbated when the case is symmetric.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 This invention was made in view of the problem of deciding which end of the spectacle case is opened, and is intended to provide a spectacle case that can avoid this problem.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 According to this invention, an elongated tubular main body, a first lid movably attached to one end of the elongated main body, and a second lid attached to the other end of the elongated main body. And an eyeglass case comprising:

In a first embodiment of the invention, the first and second lids are attached to the elongated body by spring-biased hinges, the hinges being attached to the first and second lids. Lids are biased to a closed position, and these lids face the elongated body in opposition.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the first and second lids are detachable from the elongated body.

[0010] Other aspects and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 FIG. 1 shows an open-ended eyeglass case according to the prior art. This eyeglass case has an elongated main body with one end closed, and this main body 1 is attached to a lid 2 by a hinge 3. The lid 2 is closed by the hinge 3 so that the lid 2 closes the open end of the elongated body and contacts the elongated body, and the open end where the open end of the elongated body is exposed and the eyeglasses are housed inside the elongated body. Between positions, it can be moved relative to the body 1. The hinge 3 is spring-biased such that the lid 2 is directed to the open position.

A catch 4 is provided on the side wall of the round edge of the open end of the body 1 opposite to the position where the hinge 3 attaches the lid 2 of the elongated body 1. This catch is provided to cooperate with the notch 5 of the lid 2 in the closed position. One urging button 6 is provided to project through the wall of the elongated body 1. When the urging button 6 is depressed, the catch 4 is moved from the notch 5 and the hinge 3 urged by the spring is operated to move the lid 2 to the open position shown in FIG.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of another eyeglass case according to the prior art. According to FIG. 3, the spectacle case has a body 11 closed on one side attached to a lid 12 by a hinge (not shown). By this hinge, the lid 12 opens the open end of the main body and exposes the glasses to the inside of the main body 11, as shown in FIG. 2, and the lid 12 closes the open end of the elongated main body 11 and makes contact with the elongated main body. 3 can be moved relative to the body 1 between the closed position shown in FIG.

A single leaf spring 13 is provided inside the case, and both ends thereof are attached to the inside of the elongated main body 11 and the lid 12, respectively. The leaf spring 13 acts to bias the lid 12 toward the closed position when the lid 12 moves from this position. When the lid 12 is moved to the open position of FIG. 2, it reaches the off-center position and the leaf spring 13 no longer biases the lid 12 toward the closed position. When the lid 12 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 toward the closed position, the leaf spring 13 acts to urge the lid 12 again toward the closed position.

When the user intends to store the glasses in the glasses case shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the user pulls the lid 12 and moves it to the open position. The user then inserts the glasses into the elongated body 11 and then urges the lid 12 to the closed position. The plate spring 13 encourages the lid 12 to return to the closed position shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. The invented eyeglass case has an elongated tubular body 21 which is preferably a continuous aluminum extruded piece. One end of the main body 21 is provided with a first lid 22 attached to the elongated main body by a hinge (not shown). At the other end of the tubular body, a second lid 24 attached to the other end of the tubular body 21 by a hinge (not shown) is provided. The first lid 22 and the second lid 24 are also preferably made of aluminum.

Inside the case, a first leaf spring 13 whose both ends are attached to a cylindrical main body 21 and a first lid 22 is provided. A second leaf spring (not shown) whose both ends are attached to the cylindrical main body 21 and the second lid 24 is also provided. The first and second leaf springs apply the first and second lids 22, 24 to a closed position where the lids close both open ends of the tubular body 21 and come into contact with the tubular body 21. Energize. When the first and second lids 22, 24 are moved from the closed position to the open position shown, the center position is reached and the leaf springs no longer bias the lids 22, 24 toward the closed position. I will not do it. If one of the lids 22, 24 moves from this position toward the closed position, the corresponding leaf spring acts to bias the lid again toward the closed position.

The strength of the leaf spring is sufficient to hold the lids 22, 24 in the closed position when the eyeglasses contact the inside of the lid. The strength of the leaf spring is preferably sufficient to hold the lid when a weight between 5 and 10 times the weight of the glasses is in opposing contact with the inside of the lid. Providing a high-strength leaf spring increases the tolerance for compensating for the decrease in strength caused by wear.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention, with the first lid in an open position and the second lid 24 in a closed position. If the case of this invention adopts this arrangement, the eyeglasses and other articles are inserted into the tubular body 21 through the exposed end by moving the first lid 22 to the open position. be able to. Since the second lid 24 closes the other end of the cylindrical main body 21 and the second lid 24 is in a closed position facing the cylindrical main body 21, It is held inside. The second leaf spring holds the second lid in this position supporting the weight of the glasses.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the first lid is in a closed position and the second lid is in an open position. In this structure, eyeglasses and other articles pass through the end exposed by moving the second lid 24 to the open position, are stored in the tubular main body 21, and are taken out therefrom.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, in a closed position where both the first lid 22 and the second lid 24 face and contact both ends of the cylindrical main body 21. is there.

By providing a spectacle case that opens at either end, no matter which end the user chooses to open, the spectacle case will open, so the problem of deciding which end to open is that. Alleviated. The invention is particularly suitable for eyeglass cases that are symmetric in shape. This is because the eyeglass case is thankfully symmetrical and can be held by the user without the user having to indicate which end of the eyeglass case will open.

The appearance of the case is smooth because a leaf spring for urging the lids 22 and 24 to the closed position is provided inside the case. This reduces the chance that the case will make a key tear in contact with the user's clothing surface. By providing a leaf spring beyond the center position, a means is provided for the lids 22, 24 to stably move to the open position. By providing a leaf spring having a strength that is many times greater than the strength required to hold the lids 22, 24 in the closed position when the glasses are held in the tubular body 21, it is significant to open the lids. It is possible to prevent the case from being accidentally opened by being caught on the clothing surface instead of being subjected to a strong force.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment of the invention, the spectacle case comprises an elongated tubular body 21, a first push-in part in contact with the lid 25, and a second push-in part in contact with the lid 26. In this specific example, both ends of the cylindrical main body 21 are closed by lids 25 and 26 designed to be detachably pushed into the both ends of the cylindrical main body 21. Since the lids 25 and 26 are designed to fit at both ends of the tubular main body, they are not separated from the tubular main body 21 by accident.

As in the first embodiment of the invention, the corresponding lid can be removed at either end of the eyeglass case that the user wants to open. Thus, the user does not try the first end and then the other to open the glasses case.

However, the second example is a less preferred example. This is because the requirement that the lids 25, 26 fit exactly into the tubular body 21 requires that the lids be manufactured with an accuracy far exceeding that required for the lids of the first embodiment. . Furthermore, even if the lids 25, 26 were initially manufactured to fit exactly, the case would result in wear.

Although the spectacle case is referred to as being made from extruded aluminum, it is understood that a spectacle case to which the present invention can be applied can be manufactured from a suitable hard material such as plastic. Should.

Although the invention is referred to as an application in connection with an eyeglass case, it should also be understood that the invention can be applied to cases for other articles.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an eyeglass case according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another eyeglass case according to the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the eyeglass case of FIG. 2 in a closed state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 with an open first lid and a closed second lid
FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, with the first lid closed and the second lid opened.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 with the first and second lids both closed;

FIG. 8 is a developed perspective view of a second specific example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,11,21 ... tubular body, 2,12,22,24,2
5, 26 lid, 3 hinge, 4 catch, 5 cut, 6 button.

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 25, 1999 (1999.3.2
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims for utility model registration

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Utility model registration claims]

9. The case according to claim 1, wherein the case is mirror-symmetric about a plane passing through the center of the elongated body. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 17, 1999 (1999.5.1
7)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims for utility model registration

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Utility model registration claims]

Claims (10)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. An elongated tubular body for housing spectacles and other articles; a first lid for closing one end of the elongated tubular body; and another end of the elongated tubular body. And a second lid for closing a part, wherein the first and second lids are openable, and a case for storing glasses or other articles. 2. The elongate tubular body is attached to one end of the elongate tubular body by a first hinge, and the second lid is attached to the elongate tubular body by a second hinge. The case according to claim 1, wherein the case is attached to the other end of the main body. 3. The apparatus further comprises biasing means for biasing said first and second lids toward a closed position, each of said first and second lids being a respective one of said elongated tubular bodies. 3. The case according to claim 2, wherein the case faces and contacts the end of the case. 4. The biasing means is provided at a position beyond the center, and the first and second lids are moved to place the biasing means at the position beyond the center. Wherein the biasing means does not act to bias the first and second lids toward the closed position when the biasing means is in a position beyond the center. The case described in 3. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said urging means comprises a leaf spring.
Or the case described in 4. 6. The case according to claim 1, wherein said elongated tubular body is manufactured from extruded aluminum. 7. The case according to claim 1, wherein said elongated tubular main body and said first and second lids are made of plastic. 8. The case according to claim 1, wherein there is no protrusion outside said elongated cylindrical body. 9. The case according to claim 1, wherein the case is mirror-symmetric about a plane passing through the center of the elongated body. 10. An article case, such as glasses, as described with reference to FIGS. 4-8.