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[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of eyeglasses care kits. More specifically, it concerns a case for holding an eyeglasses care kit.
[0002] Already known in the prior art, there are many models of soft and hard multi-purpose cases used for storing care kits and/or protecting eyeglasses (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,921,383, 6,439,379, 6,003,663, 5,803,244, 4,960,208 and 6,170,651). Some of these models are provided with a clip-like holder commonly used for mounting the case to the interior pocket of a jacket, or a belt (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,003,663, 4,960,208).
[0003] Very often, eyeglasses are cleaned with a cleaning product contained in a spray bottle. Since eyeglasses often need to be cleaned, a user has to have easy access to the spray bottle and a soft cleaning cloth. Consequently, for cleaning his/her eyeglasses, the user has to find the spray bottle and then the soft cleaning cloth. Sometimes, the user can lose precious time looking for them. For that reason, it would be advantageous to have an eyeglasses care kit that would be readily available to the user.
[0004] Among the prior art cases, many include internal receptacles for storage of miscellaneous accessory items such as nose pads, spare screws, a small screwdriver, a bottle with lens cleaning solution, and a lens wiping cloth (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,439,379, 6,003,663 and 6,170,651). However, all of the paraphernalia and miscellaneous accessories that are incorporated into the prior art casings are, in fact, useless for a day to day care kit. A user does not have to replace the nose pads and or screws of his or her eyeglasses on a day to day basis. The day to day needs of a user require a rather simple, but well thought out, care kit and casing therefor. In order for an everyday care kit to be adequate, it basically requires a bottle of care product for cleaning eyeglasses, a cloth for removing the product from the eyeglasses and a case adapted and designed specifically for holding both of the foregoing.
[0005] Another important drawback associated with these prior art casings stems from the fact that they are also often quite bulky. This makes them difficult to conveniently store out of sight. These separate problems are compounded by the fact that most of the prior art casings and care kits are complicated to manufacture and therefore often quite expensive.
[0006] In view of the above, the prior art does not provide a common solution to the separate problems of handling, bulkiness, storage, manufacturing and costs.
[0007] Thus, there exists a definitive need for both a care kit and a case for holding a care kit which are all at once user friendly, easy to handle, compact, easy to manufacture and inexpensive.
[0008] There is therefore also a need for both a care kit and a case for encasing a cloth and a bottle of care product which are designed for everyday needs, user friendly, easy to handle, compact, easy to manufacture and inexpensive.
[0009] The present invention fulfills these needs and also other needs, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following specification.
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a case for holding an eyeglasses care kit that satisfies the above-mentioned need.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, that object is achieved with a case for holding a care kit of the type comprising a bottle containing a care product. The case comprises a shell member with an open end for allowing insertion of an object, as for example, a cloth or even a pair of eyeglasses within the shell. Releasable mounting means are provided for releasably mounting the bottle across the open end and thereby allowing the bottle to obstruct the open end to keep the object within the shell. The case is preferably made of a molded plastic material.
[0012] As can be appreciated, since the bottle acts as the cover of the case, a user can hardly lose the bottle by inadvertence since the chances are that the bottle will be automatically replaced across the open end after being used. Another advantage is that since the case can come in a single piece, it is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
[0013] In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the case comprises a holder connected to a wall of the shell member for holding the shell to an element, as for example a car visor, a wall, a desk top, a shelf, etc.
[0014] The holder preferably comprises an extension integrally projecting from the wall and forming a clip therewith for clipping the shell member to a plate shaped element, such as a car visor.
[0015] The releasable mounting means preferably comprises a rim bordering the open end of the shell, the rim being sized and shaped for snugly fitting the bottle therein.
[0016] More preferably, the rim comprises a top, a bottom and two opposite side walls and the releasable mounting means comprises ridges projecting from at least one of the bottom and top walls of the rim.
[0017] The case preferably comprises a shoulder formed on each of said side walls of the rim to receive the bottle in abutment within the open end.
[0018] More preferably, the side walls of the rim may have a semi-circular cut out for facilitating a seizing of the bottle.
[0019] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, it is provided a care kit comprising a bottle containing a care product, a cloth and a case, as provided by the present invention hereinabove summarized.
[0020] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reading the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment made with reference to the accompanying examples.
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027] While the invention will be described in conjunction with an example embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such an embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included as defined by the appended claims.
[0028] Referring to
[0029] Referring to FIGS.
[0030] As can be appreciated by viewing
[0031] Turning now more particularly to FIGS.
[0032] As best shown in
[0033] Referring to
[0034] Also preferably, the side walls (
[0035] Therefore, thanks to the semi-circular cut out (
[0036] This semi-circular cut out (
[0037] The releasable mounting means of this preferred embodiment of the invention is, as previously mentioned hereinabove, quite user friendly. The user may rapidly, conveniently and virtually effortlessly, remove or replace the bottle (
[0038] Alternative releasable mounting means include Velcro tabs, elastic thongs, straps or the like, or even a cloth of the like.
[0039] Now referring to
[0040] The holder (
[0041] The holder (
[0042] The case (
[0043] The case (
[0044] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.