GB2488169A

GB2488169A - Spectacles holder

Info

Publication number: GB2488169A
Application number: GB1102889.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zachaeus Joshua Ferguson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-18
Filing date: 2011-02-18
Publication date: 2012-08-22
Also published as: GB201102889D0

Abstract

A spectacles holder consists of a fabric base having two spaced slots 4, 5 in it, the slots being spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of a pair of spectacles and, located on one side of the fabric between the two slots, a holding loop 6 of appropriate material. In use, the two arms of a pair of spectacles are inserted into the slots 4, 5 from the side of the fabric opposite the loop 6 and then the arms are folded down to lie against one another. The fabric may form part of a garment much as a shirt. The slots can be configured like buttonholes.

Description

SPECTACLES HOLDERS

This invention relates to spectacles holders. Many people wear spectacles in order to improve their vision. These may be corrective spectacles to compensate for long sight, short sight or other optical conditions, or they may be non-corrective, but nevertheless assist the wearer to see better, for

example sunglasses.

There are many situations in daily life where the spectacle user does not wear the spectacles continuously, and this gives rise to a need to store the spectacles safely and without risk of damage. Although very often the owner will have a spectacle case of some sort into which the spectacles may be placed, this is sometimes not particularly convenient.

One approach adopted by some spectacle wearers is to push them up so that they are worn essentially on top of the head. Another expedient often adopted is to tuck one of the hinged side members or arms into a suitable position in the spectacle wearer's clothing, for example between two buttons of a shirt front or, in the case of a polo shirt, they are simply hung on the shirt with one of the side pieces or arms between the shirt fabric and the wearer's chest. Both of these expedients have the major disadvantage that if the person who has temporarily relocated the spectacles in this fashion moves suddenly, the spectacles can drop out of the clothing or off the wearer's head, with consequent risk of damage.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a spectacles holder consisting of a fabric base having two spaced slots in it, the slots being spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of a pair of spectacles and, located on one side of the fabric between the two slots, a holding loop of appropriate material.

If the two arms of a pair of spectacles are inserted into the slots from the side of the fabric opposite the loop, and then the arms are folded down to lie against one another, they can then be secured in place by the loop.

Operating in this way means that the spectacles are held securely to the fabric and will not fall out if the fabric is shaken.

The fabric may form part of a garment and the two slots may conveniently be configured in the same way as buttonholes, i.e. a short slit is made in the fabric and the edges of the slit then oversewn to provide a neat edging and to stop the fabric tearing.

The holding means according to the invention can also hold spectacles for temporary storage in circumstances where they are not being worn and not stored in part of a garment. For example, on a boat, a piece of fabric may be attached to part of the boat in any convenient position, the piece of fabric being a spectacle holder in accordance with the invention. If the person on is the boat wishes to store their spectacles securely, but with them still being easily accessible, they are simply placed in the spectacle holder in the fashion described above and left there until required for use again.

The construction of the holding loop may vary widely. It should, of course, be big enough to accommodate the two side arms while not being so big as to increase the risk that the arms can move very far once the arms of the spectacles are inserted into the holder and secured by the loop. Because of the flexibility of textile fabric, it is possible to have a loop which is inelastic and relatively small, but this does make inserting the spectacles more difficult in that it is sometimes fiddly to ensure that the ends of the arms pass through the loop as the spectacles are folded round the cloth. It is accordingly preferred either that the loop is elastic, or alternatively that the loop can be opened and closed. One way of achieving the latter is to have a loop simply formed of a short strip of fabric, ribbon or the like, one end of which is permanently affixed to the fabric of the holder and the other end of which may be affixed to the fabric by means of a releasable press stud fastening, hook and eye fastening, magnetic fastening, or the like.

The invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of a shirt incorporating a spectacles holder in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a view of the same portion of the shirt but seen from the inside.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of one side of a conventional shirt front is shown. As can be seen, it has a vertical edge 1 with a number of buttonholes 2 in it designed to receive buttons which are located spaced apart in a line on the other side of the shirt front. The shirt front has a conventional open-topped pocket 3 sewn on to the breast of the shirt.

In accordance with the invention, two slots 4, 5 are formed in a fashion identical to the formation of the buttonholes 2. The length of each of the slots 4, 5 is sufficient to accommodate the majority of spectacle side arms.

As shown in Figure 2, between the two slots 4 and 5, on the inside of the shirt, there is a loop 6. One end of this loop 6 is sewn to the shirt fabric at 7, while the other end carries a press stud fastening half 8 which can be secured in or easily snapped out from the other press stud fastening half 9 which is sewn to the shirt fabric.

When the user desires to stow his or her spectacles, they are simply taken off, the two arms pushed through slots 4 and 5 from the front of the shirt and then folded down and up respectively to lie adjacent one another. The loop 6 is then simply released by separating fastener halves 8 and 9, led over the two adjacent side arms and the fastener halves then rejoined to leave the loop 6 holding the side arms against the shirt fabric and midway between slots 4 and 5. Once so located, the wearer of the shirt can engage in vigorous activity without risk of the spectacles falling out.

When the spectacles are required for use, it is simple to separate the fastener halves again and pull the spectacles out from the front.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A spectacles holder consisting of a fabric base having two spaced slots in it, the slots being spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of a pair of spectacles and, located on one side of the fabric between the two slots, a holding loop of appropriate material.
2. A spectacles holder according to Claim I wherein the fabric forms part of a garment.
3. A spectacles holder according to Claim 2 wherein two slots are configured as buttonholes formed of a short slit in the fabric, the edges of the slit being oversewn to provide a neat edging and to stop the fabric tearing.
4. A spectacles holder according to any one of Claims I to 3 wherein the holding loop is formed of elastic material.
5. A spectacles holder according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 and including means enabling the loop to be opened and closed.
6. A spectacles holder according to Claim 5 wherein the loop is formed of a short strip of fabric, ribbon or the like, one end of which is permanently affixed to the fabric of the holder and the other end of which may be affixed to the fabric means of a releasable press stud fastening, hook and eye fastening or magnetic fastening.