Special receptacle or package – For eyeglass or spectacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-01-09
Fidei, David T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For eyeglass or spectacle
C206S006000, C206S229000, C206S233000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170651
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to eyeglass carrying and storage cases, as well as to eyeglass cleaning devices and, more particularly, to a combination and multi-purpose eyeglass holding and cleaning kit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Eyeglass holding cases and eyeglass cleaning devices are by themselves very well known in the art. Numerous types and constructions of eyeglass holding sleeves constructed of soft vinyl and leather are known, as are hardened shell cases typically constructed of polymerized materials.
Some attempts have been made in the prior art to combine the features of eyeglass holding and eyeglass cleaning/polishing devices. A notable example of this is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,002, issued to Baczkowski, and which discloses a combination eyeglass lens polisher and holder device. The device of Baczkowski includes the provision of an elongated, flexible and resilient bottom strip having opposite ends, a bottom surface and an opposite upper surface. The bottom surface is constructed of a flexible and non-abrasive surface and is adapted for polishing the glasses lens. A pair of flexible, resilient eyeglass holder pockets are secured to the upper surface of the bottom strip adjacent its opposite ends and are spaced apart to define a central foldable portion therebetween. The pockets hold a pair of eyeglasses, with each lens contained within an associated pocket. The eyeglasses are polished upon being removed from the pockets, by inserting the thumb into one pocket, the forefinger and middle finger of the same hand into the other pocket, folding the device around the central foldable portion, and embracing the selected eyeglass lens between to polish it by applying kneading action of the non-abrasive surfaces against each of the lenses in succession.
Although providing an interesting example of carrying a pair of eyeglasses in a soft, flexible covering member, the device of Baczkowski does not provide any level of durable and crush-resistant protection to the eyeglasses held within and further does not provide any form of a fluid wetting/cleaning solution. The non-abrasive opposing surfaces defined upon the Baczkowski pockets are further inapplicable in combination with a suitable spray or wetting solution which has been found to be most effective for cleaning eyeglass lenses.
A further example of a combined eye glass and contact lens and accessories case is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,811, issued to Lines. The Lines patent discloses combining the glasses with a contact lens case, a first wetting solution bottle, and a second cleaning solution bottle. As illustrated, the carrying case may be folded upon itself through the use of Velcro strips. A small rectangular mirror is glued to the fabric material along one inwardly facing surface as illustrated.
As with Baczkowski, the Lines patent is likewise directed to a flexible carrying case. Further, wetting and cleaning solution bottles are disclosed as being directed for use with the contact lenses and no provision is made for employing either or both without first removing them from within associated pockets formed in the fabric material.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is a novel and useful multi-purpose eyeglass holding and cleaning kit which is capable of storing a pair of eyeglasses in a convenient and secure fashion, as well as providing the ability to quickly remove and clean the eyeglasses using both a fluid cleaning solution and one or more non-abrasive lens tissue wipes.
According to a first preferred embodiment, the body is constructed with an outer shell of a durable material. The body is shaped so as to form an generally rounded and elongate article and three dimensional article with first and second ends, the first end including a hingedly secured portion capable of being actuated from an closed position to an open position and defining a hollow interior suitable for receiving in inserting fashion a pair of eyeglasses. The hingedly secured portion includes an interior cavity within which is contained a plurality of tissues, a covering layer enclosing the tissues and further having defined therethrough an aperture for permitting successive withdrawing of the tissues.
A volume of a glass cleaning solution is contained within the shell of the body and, in one particular variant of the first preferred embodiment, includes a dispensing pump mechanism with a depressible spray head which is revealed upon actuation of a further hingedly secured portion attached to the second end. Accordingly, the further hingedly secured portion actuates at an end of the body which is both opposite the initial hingedly secured portion responsible for revealing the hollow interior for holding the eyeglasses and offset in a lateral direction so that the body defines an axially extending subcompartment for accommodating the eyeglass cleaning solution which is separated from the eyeglass holding interior.
According to further variants, the eyeglass cleaning solution may further include an insertable and affixable transparent tube within which the volume of cleaning solution is held, the tube being slidingly engaged within the designated subcompartment at the opposite end of the body. An externally viewable and transparent fluid measuring window is provided along a selected edge of the body and in proximity to the insertable tube so that a visual inspection can be made as to when it is necessary to refill the cleaning solution.
Another variation of the first preferred embodiment contemplates dispensing with the insertable and transparent tube in favor of an integrally formed and fluid-tight sealing subcompartment and into which directly is poured the desired volume of cleaning solution. In either variant, an elongate fluid withdrawal stem which terminates in the spray pump head is employed to effectively withdraw the cleaning solution. The integrally formed and fluid-tight sealing compartment may be defined in elongate and axial extending fashion along a selected one of first and second extending and generally flattened faces between the first and second ends. Alternatively, the integrally formed compartment may be defined in likewise elongate and axial extending fashion along a selected one of first and second sides between the first and second ends. Either variant described herein defines a sufficient subcompartment separate from the hollow interior for holding the eyeglasses.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the body includes an outer shell constructed of a durable material, said body having a selected length, width and thickness with first and second flattened faces, a first extending side, a second extending side, a first end and a second end which defines in combination a generally elongate and rectangular shaped article with a hollow interior suitable for receiving in inserting fashion the pair of eyeglasses. A tissue withdrawing aperture is formed along a selected one of the flattened faces and in proximity to a tissue holding subcompartment defined within the body. An elongate, planar shaped and hingedly secured portion extends across the selected flattened face. The portion is hingedly connected along an edge location of the body separating the selected flattened face and an adjoining extending side and is actuable from a first closed position to a second open position to reveal the tissue withdrawing aperture.
A selected one of the first and second ends is further defined by a further hingedly secured portion which is actuated from a closed position to an open position in order to reveal an interior of the body shell and to permit the insertion or removal of the pair of eyeglasses. A volume of a glass lens cleaning solution is contained within the shell, the cleaning solution further including a dispensing pump incorporated within the body. The dispensing pump including a depressible head which is revealed upon actuating the further hingedly secured portion to the open position. Upon removing the pair of eyegl
Fidei David T.
Gifford, Krass, Groh Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
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