Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIGHTED GLASSES CASE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
Number
61/487,118 filed May 17, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to storage containers for glasses and, more
particularly, to
cases for lighted eyewear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Hands-free lighting, such as lighted glasses, is often used to
illuminate an area while
performing a task or to direct generally outward for visibility. Light sources
on eyeglasses
usually include mounting arrangements of the light source, which may be an
LED, on either the
cross-frame or temple of the eyeglass so as to provide illumination forwardly
of the wearer. In
such configuration, lighted eyeglasses are typically used to provide directed
or focused light so
that an area immediately forward of the wearer can be illuminated for tasks
such as reading,
walking at night, camping, or emergency use.
[0004] Lighted glasses require a power source to energize the light sources
mounted thereto,
which is typically one or more batteries. When such power source dies,
however, unless a user
had the foresight to pack extra batteries, the lighted glasses are rendered
inoperable. Often,
glasses are stored in a case to protect the glasses from physical damage when
they are not being
worn. Typical glasses cases have a hollow interior sized to receive the
lighted glasses therein.
Attempting to keep spare batteries in such a case could disadvantageously
scratch the lenses of
the lighted glasses and/or the loose batteries could fall out of the glasses
case during inadvertent
or intentional opening or transportation thereof.
[0005] Some prior glasses cases incorporate battery compartments that are
utilized to power
various devices mounted to or forming a part of the glasses cases. For
example, U.S. Patent
Publication No. 2005/0194267 to Lam describes a multipurpose spectacle case
with a battery
compartment for powering a radio assembly built into the case. Similarly,
Chinese Application
No. 201278901 to Zhang describes an eyeglass case having a built-in radio with
a battery
compartment. Chinese Application No. 20115482 to Xie describes a spectacle
case having
rotating brushes for cleaning the spectacles built into the spectacles case
and a battery slot
provided in the case for the rotating brushes. These references all describe
glasses cases where
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batteries are utilized to power secondary devices forming a part of the case.
With such cases, the
batteries that power the secondary device may not be compatible with the
lighted glasses, or even
if the batteries are compatible, the batteries may still be dead or the user
must choose between
operating the secondary device in the case or operating the lighted glasses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A case for lighted glasses is provided having one or more battery
holders therein for
storage of standard sized batteries for the lighted glasses. The battery
holders include a retaining
surface that is sized and configured to engage and frictionally retain the
standard size battery in
the battery holder. This effectively provides the battery holder with a
friction fit with the
standard sized battery. Upper and lower housing portions of the case are
pivotably connected
together to be pivotable with respect to each other between a closed position
forming a housing
interior space sized to receive the lighted glasses therein and an open
position to provide access
to the interior space to remove or replace the lighted glasses therein.
[0007] In this form, the case advantageously provides a secure housing for
the lighted
glasses while also providing convenient battery storage space. Accordingly, a
user of the lighted
glasses can have spare batteries on hand without having to remember and carry
extra packaging
containing the spare batteries. This convenient holder can also prevent a user
from being unable
to use the lighted glasses because of dead batteries. Additionally, by
receiving the batteries in a
friction fit, the battery holders substantially prevent the batteries from
freely moving about the
interior space of the case, which can damage the lighted glasses, such as by
scratching/denting
the lenses, the frame, and/or other components of the lighted glasses,
inadvertently actuating a
switch on the lighted glasses, or the like.
[0008] In another form, a case for lighted glasses includes an elongate
housing with a hard
outer shell and an interior having a length sized to receive the lighted
glasses therein. The case
further includes a liner made of a shape retentive or resilient material and
sized to fit within the
housing interior. The liner includes one or more battery receptacles sized to
receive standard
sized batteries for the lighted glasses therein. The battery receptacles have
a wall that extends
transverse to the length of the housing interior and extends about the battery
receptacle. The
battery receptacle, and specifically the battery receptacle wall, is sized to
frictionally engage the
standard sized battery for the lighted glasses to retain the standard sized
battery in the battery
receptacle.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a case for lighted glasses showing
top and bottom
portions thereof in an open condition and a liner disposed within an interior
of the case having
battery holders with batteries received therein;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the case for lighted glasses of FIG. 1
showing an
elongate outer shell of the top portion;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the case for lighted glasses
of FIG. 1 showing
the top and bottom portions thereof in a closed condition;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the case for lighted glasses of
FIG. 1 showing the
top and bottom portions thereof in the closed condition and a hinge connecting
the top and
bottom portions;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the case for lighted glasses of FIG. 1
showing the top
and bottom portions thereof in the open condition and the liner disposed
within the interior of the
case having empty battery holders;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the case for lighted glasses of
FIG. 1 taken along
the line 6-6 in FIG. 5 showing the top and bottom portions thereof in the
closed condition and a
receptacle of one of the battery holders in the liner;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the case for lighted glasses of
FIG. 1 taken along
the line 7-7 in FIG. 5 showing the top and bottom portions thereof in the
closed condition and a
channel connecting adjacent battery holders in the liner;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the case for lighted glasses of
FIG. 1 taken along
the line 8-8 in FIG. 5 showing the top and bottom portions thereof in the
closed condition and
outer pairs of the receptacles of the battery holders connected by the
channels within the liner;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a case for lighted glasses showing
top and bottom
portions thereof in an open condition and a liner disposed within an interior
of the case having
battery holders and an elastic cover thereover in a normal condition and a use
condition;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a case for lighted glasses showing
top and bottom
portions thereof in an open condition and a liner disposed within an interior
of the case having
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battery holders with external threads and lids with internal threads
configured to engage the
external threads and cover the battery holders;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a case for lighted glasses showing
top and bottom
portions thereof in an open condition and a liner disposed within an interior
of the case having
pouches to store batteries therein;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a case for lighted glasses showing
top and bottom
portions thereof in an open condition and a liner disposed within an interior
of the case having
protuberances configured to engage hang holes of a battery package to hold the
battery package
within the interior of the case;
[0021] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the case for lighted glasses of
FIG. 12 taken
along the line 13-13 showing the protuberances engagement with the hang holes
of the battery
package;
[0022] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a case for lighted glasses having a
solar panel mounted
thereto;
[0023] FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the case of FIG. 14 showing the top
and bottom
portions thereof in the open condition and showing a charging device for
charging rechargeable
batteries either in the lighted glasses received in the case or in battery
holders of the case; and
[0024] FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 with the rechargeable lighted
glasses removed
showing different battery holders for receiving differently configured
standard batteries.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] In general and as further described below, a case for lighted
glasses is provided with
a battery holder for one or more standard sized batteries for the lighted
glasses. The battery
holder is sized to receive the one or more batteries therein to conveniently
secure and retain the
batteries until a user of the lighted glasses requires a replacement battery
to operate the lighted
glasses. At such time, the user can remove the one or more batteries from the
holder and install
the batteries in the lighted glasses for providing power to the light sources
mounted thereto. The
holder can further retain the batteries in a configuration that substantially
prevents the batteries
from damaging the lighted glasses, such as by scratching or denting.
[0026] The holder can utilize a variety of receptacles to receive the
batteries therein. By one
approach, the holder includes one or more recesses sized to receive the
batteries in a press-fit,
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such as with a depending wall. In another form, the receptacle includes a
pouch with an opening
therein sized to provide access to an interior of the pouch. A battery can be
inserted into the
interior of the pouch through the opening for storage thereof. The pouch can
further include a
flap that is positioned to selectively cover the pouch opening and thereby
prevent the battery
from exiting the pouch interior. In yet another form, the receptacle includes
an elastic sheet that
is stretchable to provide access thereunder and deformable for retaining the
batteries.
Specifically, after placement of the batteries under the sheet, the elastic
sheet can then return
towards an undisturbed configuration to elastically deform and conform to the
battery to retain
the battery thereunder. In another form, the receptacle can include one or
more protuberances
and separate battery packaging, where the protuberances are configured to
interact with the
packaging to retain the battery packaging within the lighted glasses case. For
example, the
protuberances can project through one or more openings provided in the battery
packaging to
frictionally retain the packaging in the lighted glasses case.
[0027] By another approach, the lighted glasses case, with the holder
therein, can further be
configured to charge rechargeable batteries stored therein. Pursuant to this,
the one or more
standard sized batteries can be rechargeable batteries and the holder can
include charging
connections configured to electrically connect to the rechargeable batteries
for providing
recharging power thereto. Alternatively, the lighted glasses can include
rechargeable batteries
mounted thereto, such as permanently received therein, and the lighted glasses
case can include
charging connections configured to electrically connect to the lighted glasses
for providing
recharging power thereto. The charging device can take a number of forms,
including, for
example, one or more solar cells, a socket configured to connect to a standard
electrical or power
outlet through a cord, a kinetic energy device, or the like. So configured,
the lighted glasses case
can charge or recharge spare batteries received in the holder for subsequent
use in the lighted
glasses or rechargeable batteries within the lighted glasses.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, an exemplary lighted glasses case 10 is
illustrated in
more detail. The case 10 includes an elongate housing 12 with a length that
extends along a
longitudinal axis L thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. The housing 12 includes an
interior 14 sized to
receive lighted glasses therein for protection, transportation, and storage
purposes. The housing
interior 14 further includes one or more battery holders 17 sized and
configured to receive and
retain one or more batteries 19 therein, and can take a variety of forms and
configurations, as
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described in greater detail below. The battery receptacles 17 store batteries
sized to fit within
and power lights of the lighted glasses to provide convenient, on-hand access
if a battery of the
lighted glasses should die, thereby ensuring that a user is not without light
when needed.
[0029] The battery holders 17 retain the batteries 19 therein using a
variety of configurations
and methods, including, for example, a receptacle sized to receive the
batteries in a friction or
press fit; within a pouch having a lateral opening, within a receptacle having
a removable cover,
held by a strip or sheet being at least partially elastic or resilient, and by
securing a package
containing the one or more batteries therein, for example. It will be
understood, however, that
battery holders can take various other forms.
[0030] As illustrated, the case 10 includes top and bottom portions 18, 20
that are movable
with respect to one another between an open position or configuration exposing
the interior 14
(FIG. 1), such as for removing or replacing the lighted glasses in the
interior 14, and a closed
position or configuration closing access to the interior 14 (FIG. 2). By one
approach, the top and
bottom housing portions 18, 20 are pivotably connected together, such as by a
hinge 22 or the
like, to be pivotable between the open and closed configurations. The hinge 22
can also be
configured to hold the top and bottom housing portions 18, 20 in the open and
closed positions
with a biasing mechanism. For example, the hinge 22 can hold the top and
bottom portions 18,
20 in the closed configuration and bias the top and bottom housing portions
18, 20 to the closed
position when the top and bottom housing portions 18, 20 are at a relatively
small angle, such as
about 45 degrees or less with respect to one another. As such, the biasing
mechanism can cause
the top and bottom housing portions 18, 20 to snap shut when the top and
bottom housing
portions 18, 20 are at the relatively small angle to prevent unintentional
removal of the lighted
glasses from the glasses case 10. The biasing mechanism can further hold the
top and bottom
housing portions 18, 20 in the open configuration and bias the top and bottom
housing portions
18, 20 to the open position when the housing portions 18, 20 are at a
relatively larger angle, such
as about 50 degrees or higher with respect to one another. In such a
configuration, the open
condition can correspond to the hinge 22 holding the top and bottom housing
portions 18, 20
generally orthogonal to one another as illustrated in FIG. 1; however, the
housing portions can
open more, such as positioned side-by-side and even with one another. The
biasing mechanism
can be one or more spring steel strips or the like mounted thereto that are
configured to apply
forces on the hinge 22 so that it functions as set forth above.
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[0031] As shown in the figures, the top and bottom housing portions 18, 20
are mirror
images of one another. Each portion 18, 20 includes a longitudinal wall 24
that extends along
the housing axis L to form a generally rectangular major surface 26 of the
case 10. Front and
rear walls 28, 30 depend from forward and rear edge portions 32, 34 of the
longitudinal wall 24
respectively, and side walls 36 depend from side edge portions 38 of the
longitudinal wall 24.
The front, rear, and side walls 28, 30, 36 extend generally transverse to the
housing axis L to an
interior engagement edge 40 that is configured to engage the interior
engagement edge 40 of the
opposite housing portion when the top and bottom housing portions 18, 20 are
in the closed
position. So configured, the top and bottom housing portions 18, 20 combine
and engage one
another to define the interior 14 of the lighted glasses case 10.
[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the longitudinal walls 24 of the lighted
glasses case 10 are
slightly outwardly convex, such that the interior 14 has its greatest height
generally centrally
along the housing axis L and its smallest height adjacent to the side walls
26. Additionally, as
shown in FIG. 2, the front and rear walls 28, 30 of the lighted glasses case
10 can also have end
portions 42 thereof that slightly taper inwardly toward each other so that the
top and bottom
housing portions 18, 20 have tapered longitudinal ends 44. The tapered
longitudinal ends 44
along with the pivoting action of the top and bottom housing portions 18, 20
about the hinge 22
gives the illustrated form of the lighted glasses case 10 a clamshell
configuration with an oblong
and streamlined appearance and configuration. The joints or edges between the
housing walls
24, 28, 30, 36 can further be rounded as illustrated in the figures to
minimize sharp edges on the
lighted glasses case 10, which can minimize damage caused by the case 10 when
stored next to
other objects or jostled during transportation thereof.
[0033] One or both of the housing portions 18, 20 can further include a
grip portion 46
formed in or mounted to the front walls 28 thereof. The grip portion 46
provides a user with a
convenient surface to grip while opening the glasses case 10 and overcoming
the biasing force of
the hinge biasing mechanism. By one approach, the grip portion 46 includes a
surface 48 with at
least a portion thereof angled with respect to adjacent portions of the front
wall 28. So
configured, the angled surface 48 provides an abutment surface for a user's
thumb or finger
during opening of the lighted glasses case 10. The angled surface 48 is
preferably positioned
generally centrally along the housing axis L, so that sideways rotational
forces acting on the
hinge as a result of opening of the case 10 are minimized, as opposed to
opening rotational forces
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about the housing axis L. In the illustrated form, the grip portion 46 is
inwardly concave and
extends generally transverse to the housing axis L across the front walls 28
of both the top and
bottom housing portions 18, 20.
[0034] As described above, the lighted glasses case 10 is configured to
receive the lighted
glasses therein to store and protect the lighted glasses from damage. Pursuant
to this, the
housing 12 may be constructed of a sufficiently rigid material, such as metal,
rigid plastic, or the
like. One or more outer surfaces of the housing 12 can further have a
relatively softer coating,
material, or layer 50 disposed thereon or applied thereto, so that the
resulting outer surface of the
housing 12 is relatively soft, which can help lessen damage caused by the case
10 when stored
with other objects and provides an enhanced feel or touch for a user of the
case 10. The coating
or material 50 can include a variety of colors or designs, as desired. By one
approach, the
coating or material 50 can be at least partially deformable so that desired
indicia, such as a
company logo or trademark 52, or other graphic or alphanumeric content can be
pressed therein.
Alternatively, a company logo or trademark can be adhered to or otherwise
attached to the case
10.
[0035] Turning now to one exemplary form for the battery holders 17 as
illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 5-8. In this form, the battery holders 17 are recesses 54 sized to
receive one or more of the
batteries 19 therein in a friction or press-fit engagement. A user can
manipulate one of the
batteries 19 to align with the recess 54 and press the battery 19 into the
recess. Preferably, the
recess 54 is sized so that the recess 54 is the same size as or slightly
smaller than the battery 19
so that the recess 54 resiliently deforms and receives the battery 19 in a
friction-fit. By one
approach, the batteries 19 are generally disc-shaped, coin cell batteries. In
this form, the recesses
54 include a generally annular surface 56 having a diameter that is the same
or slightly smaller
than the coin cell batteries 19. As shown, the lighted glasses case 10
includes four recesses 54,
but any desired number of recesses 54 can be provided within the case 10.
[0036] Because the batteries 19 are held within the recesses 54 by a press-
fit, the annular
surface 56 can include a circumferential opening 58 therein to provide access
to a side surface 60
of the battery 19 to remove the battery 19 from the recess 54. The opening 58
can be any desired
size, as long as the annular surface 56 extends about more than half of the
battery side surface
60, and preferably more than three-fourths of the battery side surface 60, so
that the annular
surface 56 can provide the friction fit discussed above. Specifically, when a
user desires to
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remove the battery 19 from the press-fit engagement with the recess annular
surface 56, the user
can access the battery side surface 60 through the annular wall opening 58 and
apply an upwards
force on the battery 19 to overcome the friction between the battery 19 and
the recess 54. In the
illustrated form, a relatively narrow (with respect to the diameter of the
recesses 54) channel 62
extends longitudinally between adjacent pairs of the recesses 54 and
intersects the annular side
surfaces 60 thereof to provide the circumferential openings 58 therein.
[0037] The lighted glasses case 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5-8 can
further include a liner
64 disposed within one or both of the housing portions 18, 20. Preferably, the
liner 64 is sized to
be substantially complementary to the interior surfaces of housing portions
18, 20 so that is does
not significantly decrease the size of the case interior 14. By one approach,
this is achieved by
thermoforming the liner 64 to substantially match the dimensions (with
acceptable tolerances) of
the interior of the case 10. As such, the liner 64 is a thin plastic material
that is resilient and
deformable to frictionally retain the batteries 19. Alternatively, the liner
64 can be composed of
other resilient, deformable materials, including paperboard, or other plastic
materials. The liner
64 can be secured within the case 10 by any suitable method, including
adhesive, hardware,
snap-fit structure, ultrasonic welding, or the like.
[0038] As such, in this form, the liner 64 includes top and bottom portions
66, 68 sized to be
received within the top and bottom housing portions 18, 20 respectively, and
includes main
longitudinal walls 72, front and back walls 74, 76, and side walls 78 that are
sized to fit inwardly
of the corresponding structure of the top and bottom portions 18, 20. The
liner 64 can further
include a connecting portion or bridge 80 that connects and extends between
the top and bottom
liner portions 66, 68. Due to the clamshell configuration of the lighted
glasses case 10, the
bridge 80 preferably substantially or completely covers the hinge 22, but does
not extend to the
tapered ends 44 of the housing portions 18, 20, so that the bridge 80 does not
interfere with the
pivoting action of the housing portions 18, 20 relative to one another.
Additionally, to
accommodate the rotation of the top and bottom portions 18, 20 with respect to
one another, the
bridge 80 connections with the top and bottom liner portions 66, 68 can be
sufficiently flexible,
include a fold or other area of weakness, or the like. By another approach,
the bridge 80 can be
configured to flex inwardly while the case 10 is in the closed configuration
and translate or shift
toward the hinge 22 during opening of the case 10 to accommodate the rotation
of the top and
bottom housing portions 18, 20 with respect to one another.
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[0039] The liner 64 can also be advantageously structured to provide the
recesses 54 therein.
In the illustrated form, the liner 64 is generally closely adjacent to the
interior surfaces of the top
and bottom housing portions 18, 20; however, the liner 64 also includes a
raised portion or shelf
82 that generally extends along the housing axis L adjacent to and provides a
portion thereof
spaced from one of the longitudinal walls 24 of the housing portions 18, 20.
The liner 64 could
include additional shelves to receive and store additional batteries as
desired, such as the two
shelves 82 illustrated in FIG. 1. In this instance, the shelves 82 are
longitudinally spaced by a
recessed area 83 generally at the longitudinal center of the elongate case 10
generally aligned
with the gripping portion 46 thereof, and are also each generally spaced from
corresponding
longitudinal ends of the case 10 by recessed areas 85, as can be seen in FIGS.
1 and 5.
[0040] The shelf or shelves 82 each include a top surface 84 that is
generally parallel to the
housing axis L and extends between the liner front and back walls 74, 76. End
walls 86 depend
from the shelf top surface 84 to extend generally transverse to the housing
axis L between the
shelf 82 and the lower adjacent surfaces of the liner 64. The recesses 54 can
then be provided by
an annular wall 88 that depends downwardly from a central portion of the shelf
82 to a recess
bottom wall or surface 90. So configured, the annular wall 88 provides the
generally annular
surface 56 to frictionally engage the battery 19, as discussed above.
[0041] Preferably, the shelf 82 is spaced from the housing longitudinal
wall 24 to allow the
annular wall 82 to extend downwardly for a distance sufficient for the recess
54 to be of a
sufficient depth to fully receive the battery 19 therein so that no portion of
the battery 19 projects
above the shelf top surface 84 and with the bottom of the recess adjacent to
the housing wall 24.
This more securely holds the battery 19 within the recess 54 by maximizing the
surface area of
the battery 19, and specifically the annular side surface 60 thereof in
frictional contact with the
annular surface 56 of the recess 54, and also protects the lighted glasses
being stored in the case
from being damaged by portions of the battery 19 projecting above the shelf
top surface 84.
Additionally, surface 92 of the liner 64 exposed in the case interior 14
including the shelf surface
84 can be relatively soft or have a relatively soft material or fabric
disposed thereon to provide
further protection for the lighted glasses.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the shelf 82 can further be sized and
configured to have
two of the annular walls 88 depending therefrom connected by the narrow
channel 62, which
includes side walls 94 depending downwardly from the shelf top surface 84 to a
channel bottom
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wall or surface 96 extending therebetween. This shelf configuration can be
repeated as desired
along the housing axis L for a desired amount of battery receptacles.
Additionally, as discussed
above, the liner 64 can be thermoformed into any of the configurations
described herein to
provide the various battery holders 17 structures set forth above, including
the shelf 82, the
recesses 54, and the channel 62.
[0043] By another approach as illustrated in FIG. 9, an elastic strip or
sheet 100 can extend
over and cover a majority or all of the recess 54 to deny access to the recess
54 and prevent the
battery 19 held therein from dislodging from or falling out of the recess 54.
Utilizing the elastic
strip 100, the recess 54 can hold the battery 19 in a friction or press-fit,
as discussed above, or
can be sized larger than the battery 19 so that the battery 19 is received
loosely therein. The
elastic sheet 100 can be secured to the case 100 by attaching lateral ends 102
thereof to the liner
64 or housing portions 18, 20 as desired. As shown, the lateral ends 102
extend generally
transversely to the housing axis L, but can be attached at angles thereto if
desired. The elastic
sheet 100 can be attached to the case 10 by any suitable method, including,
for example,
stitching, adhesive, ultrasonic welding, hardware, or the like. This
configuration leaves
longitudinal sides 106 of the elastic sheet 100 that extend between the
lateral ends 102 thereof
unattached to the case 10 so that a user of the lighted glasses case 10 can
stretch the elastic sheet
sides 106 generally away from the recesses 54 to access the recesses 54 and
the batteries 19 held
therein. The elastic sheet 100 prevents the battery 19 from inadvertently
dislodging from or
exiting the recess 54 in a normal or covering condition, but can be
manipulated by a user as set
forth above to a use or open condition. The elastic sheet 100 can take a
variety of sizes, such as
to cover one or more, or all of the recesses 54 as desired.
[0044] Alternatively, the elastic sheet 100 can be used without the
recesses 54. By this
approach, one or more of the elastic sheets 100 can extend along a portion of
the interior surface
of at least one of the housing longitudinal walls 24 or the liner longitudinal
wall 72, if the liner
64 is included, and be attached thereto as discussed above in a taut
condition. So configured, a
user can elastically deform and stretch the sheet 100 and place one or more of
the batteries 19
underneath the elastic sheet 100, so that when the sheet 100 is released, the
elastic properties of
the sheet 100 can be configured such that the elastic sheet 100 at least
partially elastically
deforms around the batteries 19 thereunder, which holds the batteries 19 in
place. Depending on
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the battery 19 and case 10 dimensions, one or more elastic sheets 100 can also
be mounted to
interior surfaces of the front, rear, and side walls of the liner 64 or
housing portions 18, 20.
[0045] By another approach as illustrated in FIG. 10, the recess 54
includes a rigid
upstanding generally annular wall 110 surrounding a recess bottom wall or
surface 112 and
exterior threads 114 extending outwardly from an outer surface 116 of the
annular wall 110. A
lid 118 is also provided having a generally circular top wall 120 with a
diameter slightly larger
than the diameter of the recess annular wall 110 such that a lid annular wall
122 depending from
edges of the lid top wall 120 is sized to fit around the recess annular wall
110. Interior threads
124 project inwardly from an interior surface 126 of the lid annular wall 122
and are configured
to engage the exterior threads 114 to secure the lid 118 over the recess 54.
So configured, a user
can rotate the lid 118 to engage and disengage the lid 118 from the recess 54
to access the recess
54 so that the user can place a battery 19 therein or remove the battery 19
therefrom. The recess
54 of this form can be a part of the liner 64 or can be a separate piece that
separately attaches to
the housing portions 18, 20 by suitable methods, including, for example,
adhesive, ultrasonic
welding, hardware, or the like. Additionally, two, three, four, or more
recesses 54 can be
provided with the lids 118 as desired.
[0046] Another form of the battery holder 17 is shown in FIG. 11. In this
form, the battery
holder 17 includes a pocket or pouch 130 sized to receive one or more of the
batteries 19 in an
interior thereof. The pocket 130 preferably includes a lateral opening 132
configured so that a
battery inserted through the opening 132 and received in the pouch 130 lies
flat against the
adjacent housing surface to minimize the distance that the battery projects
into the case interior
14. In the illustrated form, the pouch 130 includes a body portion 134 that
attaches to one of the
housing portions 18, 20 or liner 64, such as by the methods discussed above,
to create the pouch
130. Specifically, the body portion 134 is attached along a majority of its
outer edge portions
136, with the remaining edge portion 138 sized to create the opening 132. By
another approach,
the pouch 130 can include opposing body portions 134 that define the pouch
interior and one of
the body portions 134 is attached to the case 10.
[0047] The pouch 130 can further include a flap or flexible portion 140
positioned adjacent
the pouch opening 132 to provide a cover therefor. The flap 140 is attached to
the case 10 or
liner 64 adjacent to the pouch opening 138 and is configured to be movable
between a covered
position covering the opening 138 and an open position exposing the opening
138. The flap 140
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is positioned to restrict the battery 19 from exiting the pouch 130
inadvertently. In another form,
the opening 132 and specifically the opening edge portion 138 can be elastic
or include an elastic
portion that in a normal condition is contracted to at least partially close
the opening 132 and in
an open condition is stretched by a user of the case 10 to access a battery in
the pouch 130 or
insert a battery into the pouch 130.
[0048] Yet another form of the battery holder is illustrated in FIG. 12. In
this form, one or
more of the batteries 19 are contained within a separate battery package 150
sized to fit within
the interior 14 of the lighted glasses case 10. The battery package 150 can
take a variety of
suitable configurations, one of which is shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated, the
package 150
includes a generally flat backing portion 152 with one or more of the coin
cell batteries 19
secured thereto by plastic, film, or the like, so that one of the flat main
faces thereof lies along
the backing 152. By one approach, the battery package 150 can be individually
offered for sale,
being displayed such as by hanging the battery package 150 on a pole or rod
projecting from a
display shelf through a hang hole 154 provided in an upper portion 156 of the
package 152. The
battery package 150 may further include a second hang hole 158 in a bottom
portion 160 of the
package 150. The hang holes 154, 158 can take any configuration or shape,
including, for
example, generally circular, euro/sombrero, delta, slot, or the like.
[0049] The lighted glasses case 10 of this form can then be configured to
receive and retain
the battery package 10 therein. In the illustrated form, this is achieved by
one or more
protuberances 162 projecting inwardly from the longitudinal wall of at least
one of the top or
bottom housing portions 18, 20. The protuberances 162 are sized and configured
to securedly
engage the one or more hang holes 154, 158 to retain the battery package 150
within the interior
14 of the lighted glasses case 10. The protuberances 162 can be a part of the
liner 64 or can be
mounted to the housing portions 18, 20 as desired. In the form illustrated in
FIG. 13, the
protuberances 162 are a portion of the liner 64 and include side portions 164
that project
inwardly away from the adjacent housing longitudinal wall 24 generally
transverse to the
housing axis L and a rounded or arcuate top portion 166 that extends between
the side portions
164. Preferably, the protuberance side portions 164 are resilient and are
spaced apart equal to or
slightly more than a width of the hang hole 154, 158 in the battery package
150. So configured,
pressing the battery package 150 and specifically edges of the hang hole 154,
158 into
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engagement with the protuberance 162 slightly deforms the side portions 164
inwardly, such that
the protuberance 162 frictionally retains the battery package 150 thereon. As
discussed above,
the liner 64 can be thermoformed to include one or more of the protuberances
162 as desired.
[0050] Turning now to FIG. 14, a lighted glasses case 200 is illustrated
that can charge or
recharge rechargeable batteries received in the glasses case 200.
Specifically, the case 200
includes one or more solar panels 204 mounted thereto to provide recharging
power to the
rechargeable batteries within the case 200. By one approach, the solar panel
204 is embedded
within outer surfaces of one or both of the top or bottom housing portions 18,
20 and includes a
clear protective coating or layer(s) outwardly thereof. As shown, the solar
panels 204 are
advantageously mounted to the longitudinal wall 24 so as to cover a large
amount of surface area
to provide greater power generation capabilities.
[0051] Wires or other electrical connections 106, such as a circuit board
206, traces, or the
like, span between the solar panel 204 and a charging device 208 in the case
interior 14. The
electrical connections 106 can condition or store the energy generated by the
solar panel 204 as
desired. The solar panel 204 can charge the rechargeable batteries 19 within
the battery holders
17, such as the recesses 54 discussed above, or can charge rechargeable
batteries 19 received
within lighted glasses.
[0052] The charging device 208 can take a number of different forms. In one
form, lighted
glasses 216 received within the case 200 include rechargeable batteries 218
therein, which can be
permanently received therein. As such, the electrical connections 106 include
a plug 220 and the
lighted glasses 216 include a socket 222 sized to receive the plug 220
therein. When the plug
220 is inserted into the socket 222, the solar panel 240 charges the
rechargeable batteries 218 so
that the batteries 218 can power light sources 221 mounted to the glasses 216.
[0053] In one form, the recess 54 can include a pair of contacts 210
therein to electrically
couple to the anode and cathode of the rechargeable battery 19 inserted
therein. The contacts
210 include a side contact projecting inward from the recess side and a bottom
contact projecting
inward from the recess bottom. The contacts 210 are preferably resilient and
retaining tabs 211
extend over the recess 54 generally opposite of the side contact 210 so that
the battery 19 can be
inserted thereunder when inserting the battery 19 into the recess 54. When the
tabs 211 are
combined with the resilient tabs 211, the battery 19 is held within the recess
54.
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[0054] The charging device 208 can also include a status indicator light
212, which can be
an LED or the like, to indicate whether the rechargeable battery is charging
or fully charged.
Alternatively, for cylindrical batteries 19, such as AA or AAA batteries, a
curved recess 214 can
be provided instead of the annular recess 54 discussed above. As such, the
contacts 210 are
provided on either side of the curved recess 214 for charging the batteries
19. If desired, the
contacts 210 can be spring loaded to shift between compressed and extended
conditions
accommodate the differing lengths of the cylindrical batteries.
[0055] Alternatively, the case 200 can include a socket configured to
connect to a standard
electrical or power outlet by an external cord, a kinetic energy device, or
the like. So configured,
the lighted glasses case can then charge or recharge spare rechargeable
batteries received in the
battery holders for subsequent use in the lighted glasses or rechargeable
batteries within the
lighted glasses.
[0056] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of
modifications,
alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described
embodiments
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that such
modifications,
alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of
the inventive
concept.
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