EP1475007A1

EP1475007A1 - Case particularly for containing eyeglasses or optical devices

Info

Publication number: EP1475007A1
Application number: EP04009941A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bruno De Bastiani; Fabio De Bastiani; Marco De Bastiani
Original assignee: ELETTROPLAST Srl
Current assignee: ELETTROPLAST Srl
Priority date: 2003-05-08
Filing date: 2004-04-27
Publication date: 2004-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2024-04-27
Also published as: EP1475007B1; DE602004000446T2; ITTV20030071A1; DE602004000446D1

Abstract

A case (1), particularly for containing eyeglasses or optical devices, comprising a body (2) made of plastics, which forms a first half-shell (3) and a second half-shell (4) connected by means of a bridge (5) that acts as a hinge, a first covering element (12) and a second covering element (13) made of a more rigid material being overmolded on the first and second half-shells (3, 4), in order to obtain a case that preserves in an optimum manner its contents both against accidental external impacts and against scraping inside it caused by carrying it.

Description

The present invention relates to a case that is used particularly to contain eyeglasses or other optical devices.

Currently it is known to use, in order to store and protect eyeglasses, cases usually made of plastic material or other material whose main characteristic is to be substantially rigid in order to absorb any accidental impacts and protect the lenses against breakage; such case can be made of two separate half-shells mutually connected by means of a metallic hinge or, if the case is made of plastics, obtained by molding as a single part, in which the hinge is constituted by a bridge that connects two half-shells and is suitable to allow the two half-shells to be arranged mutually adjacent.

The main drawback of these known types of case is that a soft material, suitable to protect, without scratching, both the lenses and the temples or the front of the eyeglasses must be associated inside the half-shells.

For this purpose it is known for example to apply, at the internal surface of the half-shells, a light jersey, which is usually applied by means of adhesive.

However, this solution has high production costs, because labor is required to perform it, as this application cannot be automated.

Moreover, if plastic materials are used, it is necessary to reach a compromise between the degree of rigidity of the material used in order to obtain a sufficiently rigid case and at the same time obtain a sufficiently elastic hinge movement: since it is more important to achieve resistance to impacts, the selected rigidity entails, after a certain time, breakage of the hinge due to the opening and closing actions applied to the half-shells, particularly in cold environments.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the described problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited known art, by providing a case that allows optimum containment of eyeglasses or of an optical device, at the same time protecting the integrity thereof against any scratches or abrasions caused by scraping.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a case that can be manufactured in a short time and with low costs.

Another object is to provide a case that maintains its characteristics even after intense use thereof and therefore even after a large number of opening and closing actions of the case.

Another object is to provide a case that is structurally simple and at the same time allows to protect its contents against any accidental impacts or if the case falls to the ground.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a case, particularly for containing eyeglasses or optical devices, characterized in that it comprises a body made of plastics, which forms a first half-shell and a second half-shell connected by means of a bridge that acts as a hinge, a first covering element and a second covering element made of a more rigid material being overmolded externally to said first and second half-shells.

Advantageously, said body is made of soft plastic material, a first covering element and a second covering element made of more rigid plastic material being overmolded on said first and second half-shells.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of the case in the closed condition;

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of the case in the open condition;

Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the case;

Figure 4 is a front view of the case;

Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 3, of the case in the open condition;

Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 4, of the case in the open condition;

Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a detail of the bridge that connects the first and second half-shells in the closed condition;

Figure 9 is a view, similar to Figure 8, in the condition in which the case is open;

Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken along the line X-X of Figure 2;

Figure 11 is a view, similar to Figure 10, of a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 is a view, similar to Figure 9, of the embodiment of Figure 11.

In the embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a case that is used particularly to contain eyeglasses or other optical devices.

Such case comprises a body, generally designated by the reference numeral 2, which is made of plastic material that has a low degree of rigidity and therefore has softness characteristics such as not to damage the eyeglasses and in particular the lenses of the eyeglasses.

The body 2 is advantageously made of thermoplastic rubber, but at the same time it can be made of other materials that have the characteristic of not damaging the various components of the eyeglasses or of the optical device.

The body 2 is therefore obtained by molding, and is constituted by a first half-shell 3 and a second half-shell 4, which preferably have an approximately rectangular plan shape with rounded comers and are mutually connected along one side, preferably a longitudinal side, by means of a bridge 5 that acts as a hinge.

The first and second half-shells have, in the particular embodiment shown, such a configuration that the respective first perimetric edges 6 and second perimetric edges 7 can be mutually superimposed so as to form a closed compartment 8 for containing the eyeglasses or the optical device.

In particular, centering means for closing the first and second half-shells, formed proximate to the bridge 5, are provided on said first and second perimetric edges; such means are constituted by a first seat 9 that advantageously has a hemispherical cross-section and at which it is possible to arrange a complementarily shaped ridge 10.

At the bridge 5 there are also means suitable to facilitate the mutually adjacent arrangement of the first and second perimetric edges, such means being constituted by at least one appropriately provided recess 11 formed at the surface of the bridge that is adjacent to the first seat 9 and the ridge 10.

A first covering element 12 and a second covering element 13 are overmolded at, and externally to, the first and second half-shells and are again made of plastic material, which however has a higher degree of rigidity than the plastic material of the first and second half-shells.

The first and second covering elements further respectively have third perimetric edges 14 and fourth perimetric edges 15, which are arranged, at the region of the bridge 5, in abutment by means of appropriately provided protrusions 16 that protrude from the bridge on the opposite side with respect to the first seat 9 and the ridge 10 and have, in the remaining regions, for example at the first covering element 12, a second temporary engagement seat 17 for a rib 18 that protrudes at the fourth perimetric edge 15 of the second covering element 13 and has a rounded tip that temporarily engages the second seat 17 by snap action.

The second seat 17 and the rib 18 may affect, except for the region of the bridge 5, entirely or only partially the third perimetric edges 14 and fourth perimetric edges 15, so as to accordingly form means for temporarily closing the first and second covering elements.

In the particular embodiment shown, such means are located approximately at a central region of the third and fourth perimetric edges that lies opposite the adjacent region of the bridge 5; a plate 19 protrudes at the rib 18, externally with respect to the second covering element 13, and is appropriately knurled in order to facilitate the friction that can be imparted by means of a finger of the user and is suitable to' achieve snap-action opening and closure of said first and second covering elements.

One thus obtains a case that in the closed condition has a compartment inside which it is possible to arrange the eyeglasses or the optical device, such compartment being circumscribed by the first and second half-shells, which are made of soft plastic material, which as such is suitable to protect the eyeglasses against any scratches caused by scraping of the eyeglasses moving within the compartment because the case is being carried. At the same time, such case protects in an optimum manner its contents against any accidental impact, since the first and second covering elements are made of a plastic material that has a higher degree of rigidity.

It has thus been shown that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a case having been provided which allows to achieve both optimum containment of eyeglasses or of an optical device and protection of the integrity thereof against any scratches or abrasions caused by scraping.

Such case can be provided in a short time and with low costs, ensuring, thanks to its configuration, that it retains its characteristics of resistance to impacts, optimum containment of the eyeglasses protecting its components against scraping or scratches, and long durability even following intense use thereof, and therefore even following a large number of opening and closing actions of the case.

The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Thus, in a second embodiment as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the reference numeral 101 designates a case that comprises a body, generally designated by the reference numeral 102, which is made of plastics having a low degree of rigidity, such as thermoplastic rubber, and therefore has softness characteristics such as not to damage the eyeglasses and in particular the lenses of the eyeglasses.

The body 102 is therefore obtained by molding, and is constituted by a first half-shell 103 and a second half-shell 104, which preferably have an approximately rectangular plan shape with rounded comers and are mutually connected along one side, preferably a longitudinal side, by means of a bridge 105 that acts as a hinge.

The first and second half-shells have, in the particular embodiment shown, such a configuration that the respective first perimetric edges 106 and second perimetric edges 107 can be mutually superimposed so as to form a closed compartment for containing the eyeglasses or the optical device.

In particular, centering means for closing said first and second half-shells, formed proximate to the bridge 105, are provided on said first and second perimetric edges; such means are constituted by a first seat 109 that advantageously has an open polygonal cross-section and at which it is possible to arrange a complementary shaped tab 110, made of plastics having a low degree of rigidity, such as thermoplastic rubber.

At the bridge 105 there are also means suitable to facilitate the mutually adjacent arrangement of the first and second perimetric edges, said means being constituted by at least one appropriately provided recess 111 that is arc-like or polygonal and is formed at the surface of the bridge that is adjacent to the first seat 109 and the tab 110.

A first covering element 112 and a second covering element 113 are overmolded at, and externally to, the first and second half-shells and are again made of plastics, which however has a higher degree of rigidity than said first and second half-shells.

The first and second covering elements further respectively have third perimetric edges 114 and fourth perimetric edges 115, which are arranged, at the region of the bridge 105, in abutment by means of appropriately provided protrusions 116 that protrude from the bridge on the opposite side with respect to the first seat 109 and the tab 110 and have, in the remaining regions, for example at the first covering element 112, a second temporary engagement seat 117 for a complementarily shaped rib 118, which has a teardrop-like shape, protrudes at the fourth perimetric edge 115 of the second covering element 113, and has an end tooth 120 that engages by snap action and temporarily the second seat 117.

The second seat 117 and the rib 118 may affect, except for the region of the bridge 105, entirely or only partially the third perimetric edges 114 and fourth perimetric edges 115, so as to form accordingly means for temporarily closing the first and second covering elements.

In the particular embodiment shown, such means are located approximately at a central region of the third and fourth perimetric edges that lies opposite the adjacent region of the bridge 105; a plate 119 protrudes at the rib 118, externally with respect to the second covering element 113, and is conveniently knurled in order to facilitate the friction that can be imparted by means of a finger of the user and is suitable to achieve snap-action opening and closure of said first and second covering elements.

This solution, too, allows to achieve the intended aim and objects.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.

The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated.

The characteristics that are indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2003A000071 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A case, particularly for containing eyeglasses or optical devices, characterized in that it comprises a body made of plastics, which forms a first half-shell and a second half-shell connected by means of a bridge that acts as a hinge, a first covering element and a second covering element made of a more rigid material being overmolded externally to said first and second half-shells.
A case particularly for containing eyeglasses or optical devices, characterized in that it comprises a first covering element and a second covering element made of plastics, inside which a first half-shell and a second half-shell are overmolded, said first and second half-shells being connected by means of a bridge which acts as a hinge, said first and second half-shells being less rigid than said first and second covering elements.
The case according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said body is made of soft plastic material, a first covering element and a second covering element of more rigid plastic material being overmolded externally on said first and second half-shells.
The case according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said body is preferably made of thermoplastic rubber.
The case according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said body is made of a material that has a low degree of rigidity and therefore has softness characteristics such as not to damage its contents.
The case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is obtained by molding and said first and second half-shells have an approximately rectangular plan shape with rounded comers and are mutually connected, along a preferably longitudinal side, by means of a bridge which acts as a hinge.
The case according to claims 1 or 2 and 6, characterized in that said first and second half-shells have such a shape that the respective first and second perimetric edges can be mutually superimposed so as to form a closed compartment for containing the eyeglasses or the optical device.
The case according to claims 1 or 2 and 7, characterized in that centering means for closing said first and second half-shells are provided on said first and second perimetric edges and are formed proximate to said bridge.
The case according to claims 1 or 2 and 8, characterized in that said means are constituted by a first seat, which has a hemispherical cross-section and at which it is possible to arrange a complementarily shaped ridge.
The case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that means suitable to facilitate the mutually adjacent arrangement of said first and second perimetric edges are provided at said bridge, said means being constituted by at least one recess that is formed at the surface of said bridge that is adjacent to said first seat and said ridge.
The case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first covering element and a second covering element are overmolded at, and externally to, said first and second half-shells, said covering elements being made of a plastic material that is more rigid than said first and second half-shells.
The case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second covering elements respectively have third and fourth perimetric edges, which are arranged at the region of said bridge in abutment by means of protrusions that protrude from said bridge on the opposite side with respect to said first seat and said ridge and have, in the remaining regions, a second seat for temporary engagement of a rib that protrudes at said fourth perimetric edge of said second covering element.
The case according to claims 1 or 2 and 12, characterized in that said second seat and said rib affect, except for the region of said bridge, completely or only partially said third and fourth perimetric edges, so as to form means for temporarily closing said first and second covering elements.
The case according to claims 1 or 2 and 13, characterized in that said means are located approximately at a central region of said third and fourth perimetric edges that lies opposite to the adjacent region of said bridge, a plate protruding at said rib externally to said second covering element, said plate being knurled in order to facilitate the friction that can be imparted by means of a finger of the user, and being adapted to achieve snap-action closing and opening of said first and second covering elements.
The case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rib protrudes at said fourth perimetric edge of said second covering element and has a rounded tip that temporarily engages said second seat by snap action.
The case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a complementarily shaped tab can be arranged at said first seat, which has an open polygonal cross-section.
The case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one recess has an arc-like or polygonal shape and is formed at the surface of said bridge that is adjacent to said first seat and said tab.
The case according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at said second seat there is a temporary engagement for said complementarily shaped rib, which is teardrop-shaped and protrudes at said fourth perimetric edge of said second covering element.
The case according to claims 1 and 18, characterized in that said rib has an end tooth that temporarily engages with a snap action within said second seat.