Eyeglass display clip

[0002] “Not Applicable”

[0003] “Not Applicable”

[0004] “Not Applicable”

[0005] “Not Applicable”

[0006] (1) Field of the Invention

[0007] The present invention relates to eyeglass display devices and more particularly to a clip for displaying eyeglasses of a variety of different sizes, in several different manners, on a stand or mounted on a wall.

[0008] (2) Decription of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0009] Retail commercial eyewear display devices are commonly used and take many different forms. Some, such as that enclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,520 issued Nov. 29, 1988 to Robert C. Pearson, entitled “Article Display” provide a tray which receives the lens supporting frame sections of the eyeglasses. Others, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,736 issued Nov. 30, 1993 to Tom Orr, entitled “Apparatus for Displaying Eyeglass Frames” include a channel into which the ends of the eyeglasses temple pieces are received. U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,409 issued to William Gerber on Jul. 13, 1999, entitled “Eye Wear Display Device And Method Of Using Same” teaches a device that receives the ends of the temple pieces in a “V” shaped member defining a pair of recesses.

[0010] Other types of displays engage and/or support the bridge of the eyeglass frame. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,252 entitled “Unique Eyeglass Holder for Displays” issued May 31, 1994 to Mr. Charnow et al.; U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 369,039 entitled “Modular Eyeglass Display Stand Unit” issued Apr. 23, 1996 to Michael Guccione; U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,045 entitled “Eyeglass and Eyeglass Frame Display Fixture and System” issued to James Eldon et al. on Jan. 14, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,416 entitled “Display Fixture For Spectacles” issued Dec. 3, 1991 to Jan S. Ennis; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,745 entitled “Display Holder For Eyeglasses” issued Jan. 2, 1990 to W. Bruce Holden.

[0011] Many of these displays are designed to be part of a stand. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,890,745; U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,409; U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,416 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,520 mentioned above, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,262 issued Jan. 5, 1993 to G. Zoucki entitled “Display Apparatus” which may include one or more supports, some of which are rods with bases. Others are designed to mount on a wall, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,045 and 5,316,252.

[0012] However, none of the know display devices are capable of supporting eyeglasses of a variety of different sizes, both by the bridge and by the temple pieces, in several different manners, on a stand or mounted on a wall. Further, none can achieve this versatility with a simple design that is inexpensive to manufacture.

[0013] It is, therefore, a prime object of the present invention to provide an eyeglass display clip which is capable of supporting eyeglasses of a variety of different sizes, both by the bridge and by the temple pieces, in several different manners.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide an eyeglass display clip which can support eyeglasses on a freestanding stand or mounted to a wall.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide an eyeglass clip which is simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0016] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a clip is provided for displaying eyeglasses. The eyeglasses are of the type having lens holding frame sections connected by a bridge and first and second hingeably mounted temple pieces. The clip includes first and second members each defining a channel adapted to receive a different one of the temple pieces. Means are also provided for supporting the bridge of the eyeglasses.

[0017] The clip includes a wall with a first side. The first and second members extend outwardly from spaced locations on the first side of the wall. The members may be substantially parallel to each other so as to provide temple piece receiving channels that are parallel to each other or may be tapered so as to provide channels that are inclined towards each other.

[0018] The wall has a second side. The bridge supporting means includes first and second elements extending outwardly from the second side of the wall. The first and second elements are inclined relative to each other to form a shape suitable to support the bridge of the eyeglasses.

[0019] The bridge supporting means also includes a third element. The third element is mounted on the first and second elements at a location spaced from the second side of the wall. Preferably, the third element is substantially parallel to the second side of the wall and has a generally trapezoidal shape.

[0020] The clip is designed to mount on a rod and further comprises rod engaging means. This means is defined by the first and second members and the portion of the first side of the wall situated therebetween. Those parts define a generally cylindrical channel adapted to receive the rod.

[0021] The clip further includes a base for the rod such that the rod can stand on a surface. Alternatively, means for mounting the rod to a wall may also be included.

[0022] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an eyeglass display clip is provided with a wall having first and second sides. First and second members extend outwardly from the first side of the wall. The first and second members each define a channel. First and second elements extend outwardly from the second side of the wall. The first and second elements are inclined relative to each other.

[0023] The clip also includes a third element. The third element is mounted on the first and second elements spaced from, but general parallel to, the wall.

[0024] The clip is designed to mount on a rod. A rod engaging channel is defined between the first and second members.

[0025] To these and to such other objects which may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to an eyeglass display clip, as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the front of a first preferred embodiment of the clip of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the rear of the first preferred embodiment clip of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the front of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the rear of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of two clips of the present invention situated on a stand;

[0031] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the clip mounted on a flat wall; and

[0032] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the clip mounted on a slotted wall.

[0033] As seen in the drawings, both preferred embodiments of the clip of the present invention, respectively generally designated A and A′, include a generally planar central wall 10. Wall 10 has a first side 12 and a second side 14.

[0034] Extending at spaced locations from side 12 of wall 10 are first and second hollow members 16, 18. Each of the members 16, 18 is formed of a generally planar wall 16a, 18aand a generally semi-circular wall 16b, 18b, defining first and second generally semi-cylindrical channels. These channels serve as recesses to receive the ends of the temple pieces of the frame of the eyeglasses supported by the clip.

[0035] In the first preferred embodiment of the clip, clip A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, members 16 and 18 and thus channels 20, 22, are generally uniform in size and the walls of the channels generally parallel to each other. In the second preferred embodiment of the clip, clip A′ as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, members 16′ and 18′ are each tapered toward the bottom, such that walls 16b′ and 18b′ are inclined towards each other, as are channels 21 and 23.

[0036] The portions of members walls 16aand 18aadjacent side 12 of wall 10, and the portion 24 of side 12 of wall 10 between members 16 and 18, define in part a generally cylindrical channel 26. Channel 26 extends from the top to the bottom of the clip, parallel and adjacent to wall 10 and is designed to receive a rod, as explained below.

[0037] Extending at spaced locations from side 14 of wall 10 are first and second generally “L” shaped elements 28, 30. Elements 28 and 30 are inclined with respect to each other so as to form a support for the bridge of the eyeglass frame. A cube-like part 32 is situated between elements 28, 30, at their closest point. Elements 28, 30 and part 32 form a triangular-like structure.

[0038] Fixed to the outer edges of elements 28, 30 is generally a planar element 34. Element 34 is spaced from but generally parallel to wall 10. Element 34 preferably has a trapezoidal shape.

[0039] The clip is preferably formed of a single piece of injection molded plastic. The plastic has a small amount of resiliency such that the gap between channel walls 16aand 18acan widen slightly to permit the clip to be “snap-fit” onto a rod 36. Rod 36 is received between members 16 and 18, within channel 26, as seen in FIGS. 5-7. The clip can be oriented in one of two ways on the rod, with part 32 facing up or part 32 facing down, as seen in FIG. 5.

[0040] When part 32 is up, as shown by the bottom clip in FIG. 5, elements 28 and 30 form a support for the bridge of an eyeglass frame situated between element 34 and side 14 of wall 10. The hingeably mounted temple pieces can be folded or extended. In either orientation, channels 21 and 23 of clip A′ and channels 22 and 20 of clip A are adapted to receive the ends of the temple pieces to support the eyeglasses.

[0041] Rod 36 can have a base 38 so as to be freestanding, as shown in FIG. 5. As many different clips as is desired may be snap-fit along the rod, depending upon the length of the rod. This configuration is used for countertop, floor or pedestal displays.

[0042] Alternatively, rod 36 can be attached by pairs of brackets 35 to a flat wall 40, as seen in FIG. 6, or slotted wall 42 as seen in FIG. 7. When mounted to a flat wall 40, as shown in FIG. 6, a disk-like part 44 is situated at the end of each bracket 35. Part 44 is designed to adhere to a flat wall, such as by adhesive or to attach by screws. Alternately, an enlarged part 46 on the end of each bracket 35 can be used to engage the slot 48 in a slot wall, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0043] While only a limited number of preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of these modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims: