Clip device for securing glasses

Abstract

A clip device for removably attaching glasses to an article of clothing is provided. The clip device comprises a fastener configured to removably attach to a temple arm of the glasses, the fastener defining an opening for receiving the temple arm of the glasses. The clip device further comprises a clip arm extending from the fastener such that the clip arm extends along the temple arm when the temple arm is received in the opening, the clip arm being configured to hold the article of clothing between the temple arm and the clip arm to removably attach the glasses to the article of clothing.

Description

FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to devices for holding glasses, and more specifically to clip devices for securing glasses to articles of clothing.BACKGROUND

[0002] Many individuals use glasses, including corrective glasses, sunglasses, and / or reading glasses, and may occasionally remove them. Common solutions for storing glasses when not in use involve placing them on a nearby surface, tucking them into a pocket, and / or placing them on top of the user's head. These methods may introduce the risk of the glasses falling, becoming damaged, being misplaced, and / or causing discomfort to the user while stored.

[0003] Known devices developed to secure glasses when not being worn include use of flexible loops and / or clips attached to clothing, allowing the user to suspend the glasses from a pocket or other attachment point on an article of clothing when not in use. For example, some devices may include affixing a loop to an article of clothing, with the loop configured to receive the temple arm of the glasses. Such devices however may be inadequate to prevent stored glasses from rotating and / or falling off during user movement, leading to discomfort to the user and / or damage to the glasses. Known devices may also include use of magnetic systems embedded in glasses and / or articles of clothing, allowing a user to attach their glasses to an embedded magnetic portion of, for example, a shirt or jacket. Such devices may involve modification of the glasses and / or articles of clothing, altering the appearance and / or weight of each. Further, magnetic systems may be difficult for a user to handle and / or may negatively affect nearby electronic devices including, for example, mobile phones, earphones, and / or implanted medical devices.SUMMARY

[0004] Disclosed herein are clip devices and methods for removably and securely attaching glasses to articles of clothing. An exemplary clip device may include a fastener that may attach to the temple arm of the glasses, along with a clip arm that may hold an article of clothing between itself and the temple arm of the glasses. The clip device may be made from materials that are flexible yet strong, such as polyamide, to ensure reliability and durability over many use cycles. This combination of flexibility and strength may enable the clip arm and fastener to elastically deform to accommodate different thicknesses and shapes of clothing and glasses, ensuring a secure fit while reducing the risk of damage to either the glasses or the clothing.

[0005] An exemplary clip device may also include one or more ridge features at interior surfaces to enable clamping and / or alignment of the temple arm of the glasses to which the device is attached. These ridge features may create frictional contact points that help hold the temple arm in place and / or align the temple arm, reducing slippage and providing better stability even during activities involving significant user movement. An exemplary clip device may include a latching mechanism to ensure the device remains attached even during user motion while allowing removal of the glasses from the clip device when desired. The latching mechanism may include a tab feature and a slot feature that may be selectively engaged to secure the fastener, thereby preventing accidental detachment while maintaining ease of use.

[0006] An exemplary clip device may be configured to attach to different articles of clothing or portions of clothing including, for example, a user's jacket, a user's shirt collar, a user's pocket, and / or a user's belt. The clip device may be further configured to be compact and / or lightweight, allowing a user to carry the device and / or to use the device to attach glasses to articles of clothing without adding significant bulk and / or weight. A clip arm of an exemplary clip device may be configured to extend along the temple arm of the glasses, allowing the article of clothing to which the device is attached to be held securely between the clip arm and the temple arm of the glasses.

[0007] In some embodiments, a clip device for removably attaching glasses to an article of clothing is provided, the clip device comprising: a fastener configured to removably attach to a temple arm of the glasses, the fastener defining an opening for receiving the temple arm of the glasses; and a clip arm extending from the fastener such that the clip arm extends along the temple arm when the temple arm is received in the opening, the clip arm being configured to hold the article of clothing between the temple arm and the clip arm to removably attach the glasses to the article of clothing.

[0008] In some embodiments, the clip arm is a beam comprising: at a first end of the beam, a first portion extending along the length of the temple arm from the fastener, at a second end of the beam, a second portion extending along the length of the temple arm, and a third portion that connects the first portion to the second portion such that, when the fastener is removably attached to the temple arm, the second portion is closer to the temple arm than the first portion. In some embodiments, the fastener is configured to receive the temple arm such that the clip arm is approximately parallel to the temple arm. In some embodiments, the fastener is configured such that the temple arm extends along a direction that is approximately parallel to the clip arm. In some embodiments, the fastener is configured to selectively open to receive the temple arm and selectively close to secure the fastener around the temple arm. In some embodiments, the fastener comprises a latching mechanism configured to prevent the fastener from opening while the clip device is removably attached to the article of clothing. In some embodiments, the latching mechanism comprises: a tab configured to selectively deform when subjected to an applied force; a slot configured to engage with the tab upon deformation, thereby preventing the fastener from opening while the clip device is removably attached to the article of clothing. In some embodiments, the fastener comprises one or more ridge features located on an interior surface of the fastener; and the one or more ridge features extend along a direction that is approximately parallel to the clip arm and are configured to be located proximate to the temple arm. In some embodiments, the fastener comprises two or more ridge features located on an interior surface of the fastener; the two or more ridge features extend along a direction that is approximately parallel to the clip arm and are configured to be located proximate to the temple arm. In some embodiments, the fastener comprises one or more first ridge features located on a first interior surface of the fastener and one or more second ridge features located on a second interior surface of the fastener facing the first interior surface; the one or more first ridge features and the one or more second ridge features extend along a direction that is approximately parallel to the clip arm; and the one or more first ridge features are configured to contact a first side of the temple arm and the one or more second ridge features are configured to contact a second side of the temple arm opposite to the first side. In some embodiments, the clip device comprises a flexible polyamide material. In some embodiments, the clip device comprises a material having a tensile strength between 40 MPa and 55 MPa. In some embodiments, the clip device comprises a material having a Young's modulus between 1.5 GPa and 2 GPa. In some embodiments, one or more surfaces of the clip device comprise an elastomeric material configured to reduce motion of the temple arm. In some embodiments, the clip arm extends along an exterior surface of the temple arm when the temple arm is received in the opening. In some embodiments, the fastener is configured to removably attach to the temple arm of the glasses proximate to a hinge of the glasses. In some embodiments, the clip device is configured to removably attach to the article of clothing at a collar, a pocket, a belt, or any combination thereof.

[0009] In some embodiments, glasses are provided, the glasses comprising: a temple arm and a clip device for removably attaching the glasses to an article of clothing, the clip device comprising: a fastener configured to removably attach to a temple arm of the glasses, the fastener defining an opening for receiving the temple arm of the glasses; and a clip arm extending from the fastener such that the clip arm extends along the temple arm when the temple arm is received in the opening, the clip arm being configured to hold the article of clothing between the temple arm and the clip arm to removably attach the glasses to the article of clothing.

[0010] In some embodiments, a method of removably attaching glasses to an article of clothing using a clip device is provided, the method comprising: inserting a temple arm of the glasses into a fastener of the clip device such that a clip arm of the clip device extends along the temple arm; and removably attaching the clip device to the article of clothing such that the article of clothing is held between the temple arm and the clip arm.

[0011] In some embodiments, any of the features of any of the embodiments described above and / or described elsewhere herein may be combined, in whole or in part, with one another. Additional advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following figures and detailed description. The aspects and descriptions herein are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the disclosure are utilized, and the accompanying figures of which:

[0013] FIG. 1A depicts an exemplary clip device holding a user's glasses on an article of clothing, according to some embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 1B depicts a perspective view of an exemplary clip device, according to some embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 1C depicts a perspective view of an exemplary clip device, according to some embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 2A depicts a top view of two exemplary clip devices attached to glasses, according to some embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 2B depicts a front view of two exemplary clip devices attached to glasses, according to some embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 3A depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplary clip device, according to some embodiments.

[0019] FIG. 3B depicts perspective view of an exemplary clip device in a closed state, according to some embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 4A depicts a side view of two exemplary clip device, according to some embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 4B depicts a perspective view of an exemplary clip device, according to some embodiments.

[0022] FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary process for removably attaching glasses to an article of clothing using a clip device, according to some embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Disclosed herein are clip devices and methods to allow a user to securely and conveniently attach glasses to an article of clothing. Exemplary clip devices disclosed herein may address the shortcomings of existing techniques and devices for storing a pair of glasses on a user's person by providing a versatile and secure means to attach glasses to an article of clothing, ensuring convenient access while reducing the risk of loss or damage. These shortcomings may include unreliable attachment methods, potential for damaging glasses, and / or lack of adaptability to different types of clothing.

[0024] An exemplary clip device may include a fastener configured to receive a temple arm of a user's glasses, along with a clip arm that extends from the fastener to create a stable, removable means of attaching the glasses to an article of clothing. Unlike known devices that may require modification of a user's glasses and / or clothing, exemplary clip devices may be easily and removably attached to glasses to enable removably attaching the glasses to an article of the user's clothing. An exemplary clip device may be formed using a flexible material, such as polyamide, to allow the fastener and / or clip arm of the device to elastically deform, for example to hold a temple of a user's glasses in place. Using a flexible material may allow for repeated attachment and / or detachment cycles without permanent deformation, ensuring consistent clip device performance.

[0025] The fastener of an exemplary clip device may include a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism may include a tab feature and a slot feature which may be selectively engaged to secure the fastener around the temple arm of the glasses to which the device is attached, reducing the risk of accidental detachment during user movement while still allowing the user to easily remove the glasses when needed. Additionally, one or more ridge features may be positioned along interior surfaces of the fastener, providing alignment and / or applying a clamping force to hold the temple arm securely in place. The optional use of elastomeric materials on one or more interior surfaces of the fastener may further enhance temple arm stability by increasing friction, reducing the likelihood of slippage and / or protecting the temple arm from scratches or damage.

[0026] The clip arm may be configured to extend along the temple arm of the glasses to which an exemplary clip device is attached such that the clip arm is approximately parallel to the temple arm. This alignment and component flexibility may enable the user to use the clip device to attach the glasses to a variety of articles of clothing, from thicker jackets to lightweight shirts, with the article of clothing held between the clip arm of the clip device and the temple arm of the glasses. The clip device may be positioned at different locations on the articles of clothing including, for example, on a collar, pocket, and / or belt, based on user preference and convenience. Further, an exemplary clip device may be used in various configurations; for example, the same or different versions of the device may be attached to either the left or right temple arm of a user's glasses, allowing a user to select the side of the glasses on which to attach the device.

[0027] Exemplary clip devices and methods may thus provide a user with a convenient and non-intrusive solution for managing their glasses throughout daily activities, whether the user is indoors, outdoors, at work, or engaged in recreational activities. By reducing the risk of glasses becoming misplaced or damaged and allowing users to carry their glasses securely and comfortably, exemplary clip devices and methods disclosed herein may improve a user's glasses handling and storing experience.

[0028] In the following description of the various embodiments, it is to be understood that the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” used in the following description are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is also to be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed terms. It is further to be understood that the terms “includes,”“including,”“comprises,” and / or “comprising,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or units but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, units, and / or groups thereof.

[0029] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary clip device 100 that is removably attached to the temple arm 105 of glasses 104 belonging to a user 102 who is wearing a shirt that includes a pocket 106. Pocket 106 may be a pocket as depicted in FIG. 1. Alternatively, pocket 106 may be a pant pocket, a belt, a shirt collar, a jacket lapel, and / or the waistband of a skirt or pants. FIG. 1 depicts glasses 104 being inserted into pocket 106 such that a clip arm of clip device 100 is located on the inside of pocket 106, and temple arm 105 of glasses 104, and the remainder of glasses 104, is located on the outside of pocket 106. In this way, once inserted into pocket 106, the clip arm of clip device 100 and temple arm 105 of glasses 104 effectively surround and / or clamp the pocket 106 of user 102, thereby holding glasses 104 onto pocket 106. By holding glasses 104 onto pocket 106, a user may store glasses 104 on their person for a period while not wearing glasses 104.

[0030] For example, glasses 104 may be sunglasses and user 102 may wish to remove glasses 104 while indoors. To securely store glasses 104 on the person of user 102 while they move about indoors, for example, user 102 may removably attach clip device 100 to glasses 104 such that clip device 100 is located proximate to a hinge of glasses 104 and the clip arm of clip device 100 extends along the exterior surface of temple arm 105 of glasses 104. Further, clip device 100 may be attached to glasses 104 such that the clip arm extends along temple arm 105 such that the clip arm and temple arm are approximately aligned to one another, for example oriented in directions that are approximately parallel to one another. With temple arm 105 and the clip arm approximately parallel to one another, the clip arm may press against the temple arm 105 of glasses 104 such that, when an article of clothing such as pocket 106 is placed between temple arm 105 of glasses 104 and pocket 106, pocket 106 may be held securely in place, thereby removably attaching glasses 104 to pocket 106.

[0031] Additionally or alternatively, glasses 104 may be inserted into pocket 106 such that the clip arm of clip device 100 is located on the outside of pocket 106, and temple arm 105 of glasses 104, and the remainder of glasses 104, is located on the inside of pocket 106. In such a configuration, temple arm 105 and the clip arm of clip device 100 may, when pocket 106 is placed between temple arm 105 and the clip arm, clamp pocket 106 in a similar manner to that described above. In this way, glasses 104 may be stored inside pocket 106 instead of on the outside of the pocket.

[0032] Additionally or alternatively, exemplary clip device 100 may be removably attached to temple arm 105 of glasses 104 such that the clip arm of clip device 100 is located on the interior side of temple arm 105 and it may be attached such that the clip arm is oriented approximately parallel to temple arm 105 as described above. In such a configuration, for example, glasses 104 may be inserted into pocket 106 such that the clip arm of clip device 100 is located on the outside of pocket 106, and temple arm 105 of glasses 104 is located on the inside of pocket 106. When the clip arm is located on the interior side of temple arm 105 however, the portions of glasses 104 excluding temple arm 105 will be located on the outside of pocket 106. Additionally or alternatively, glasses 104 may be inserted into pocket 106 such that temple arm 105 of glasses 104 is located on the outside of pocket 106 and the clip arm of clip device 100, and the portions of glasses 104 excluding temple arm 105, is located on the side of pocket 106.

[0033] Clip device 100 may be configured to attach to various other types of articles of clothing and / or locations on articles of clothing belonging to user 102. For example, clip device 100 may be used to attach glasses 104 to a user's belt, a shirt collar, a jacket lapel, and / or the waistband of a skirt or pants. When used with a belt and / or waistband of user 102, the clip arm of clip device 100 may be positioned to hold the belt and / or waistband securely between temple arm 105 of glasses 104 and the clip arm, allowing glasses 104 to remain accessible while preventing accidental detachment. Similarly, clip device 100 may be attached to a shirt collar and / or a jacket lapel of user 102, enabling glasses 104 to be securely held at chest height or higher, which may provide added convenience in the case that user 102 frequently dons and / or removes glasses 104. The flexible and / or lightweight nature of the clip device 100 may allow clip device 100 to conform to different shapes and / or thicknesses of articles of clothing, including those not mentioned above, providing a secure hold regardless of the type of fabric and / or garment used.

[0034] FIG. 1B depicts a perspective view of exemplary clip device 100, which may include a fastener 110 and a clip arm 120. One side of fastener 110 may define an opening for receiving a temple arm of a pair of glasses. Such an opening of fastener 110 may extend along a direction approximately parallel to clip arm 120, such that when a temple arm of a pair of glasses is removably attached to fastener 110, the temple arm may be held snugly by contact at fastener 110 and / or clip arm 120. For example, one side of fastener 110 may be separated to form the opening, with one side of the opening including a tab feature 112 and the other side of the opening including a slot feature 114, as shown in FIG. 1B. Fastener 110, including tab feature 112 and slot feature 114, may serve as a latching mechanism that may be configured to prevent fastener 110 from opening and / or loosening while removably attached to a glasses temple arm and / or an article of clothing. Tab feature 112 may be configured to selectively deform when subjected to an applied force, allowing it to engage with slot feature 114. When engaged, tab feature 112 and slot feature 114 may prevent fastener 110 from inadvertently opening while removably attached to an article of clothing, thereby providing added security to ensure that glasses remain attached during movement. This latching mechanism may allow a user to easily attach and remove clip device 100 without compromising the stability of the attachment. In this way, a user may deform tab 112 and / or fastener 110 to selectively open fastener 110 to receive a glasses temple arm and to selectively close fastener 110 to secure the fastener around said temple arm.

[0035] In operation, to removably attach a glasses temple arm to fastener 110 of clip device 100, a user may lift tab feature 112, for example causing fastener 110 to elastically deform at points including point 112 and / or the separation distance between tab 112 and slot 114 to increase. This motion and / or elastic deformation may be enabled by forming clip device 100 out of a flexible yet strong material that elastically deforms under normal loading conditions in place of undergoing plastic deformation and / or fracture, as described in greater detail below.

[0036] The user may increase the space between tab feature 112 and slot 114 such that a glasses temple arm the user wishes to attach clip device 100 onto may fit within the space between tab feature 112 and slot 114. Once this occurs, the temple arm may be positioned within fastener 110 such that it extends from fastener 110 along clip arm 120, and such that it is approximately parallel to clip arm 120. This position may correspond approximately to axis 130 as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0037] Once the temple arm is adequately positioned within fastener 110, a user may close and / or secure fastener 110 by applying force to tab feature 112 so as to, for example, induce elastic deformation at points including point 113 and / or decrease the distance between tab feature 112 and axis 130. In this way, the user may deform tab feature 112 such that tab feature 112 may align with slot 114 located on the other side of the opening from tab feature 112. With tab feature 112 aligned with slot feature 114, the user may apply force to tab feature 112 to reduce the space between tab feature 112 and slot feature 114, for example by inducing deformation at points including point 111. A user may continue to move tab feature 112 toward slot feature 114 such that tab feature 112 passes through the opening formed by slot 114 and / or such that a tip 115 of tab feature 112 is positioned below a bottom tip 116 of fastener 110 once a user ceases to apply force to tab feature 112. For example, upon a user ceasing to apply force to tab feature 112, tab feature 112 may return or approximately return to its undeformed state, reversing some or all of the elastic deformation experienced by fastener 110 at points including point 113. For example, the distance between tab feature 112 and axis 130 may increase to approximately its original value before the user engaged and / or applied force to tab feature 112.

[0038] In this way, tab feature 112 may fit into slot feature 114 and may lock fastener 110 into a closed state, with tip 115 of tab feature 112 located below bottom tip 116 of fastener 110 and thereby prevented from opening accidentally. Such a closed state may also hold a glasses temple arm inserted into fastener 110 in place, for example by applying a frictional contact and / or through the use of alignment features. Such frictional contacts and / or alignment features may include ridge features 117, 118, and / or 119 as shown in FIG. 1B. Ridge features 117, 118, and / or 119 may be located at one or more interior surfaces of fastener 110, extending along a direction that is approximately parallel to clip arm 120, for example extending along the entire length of fastener 110. Fastener 110 may additionally or alternatively include one or more raised retaining features 140, that may prevent significant motion or misalignment of a temple arm of a pair of glasses inserted by a user into fastener 110. In so doing, one or more raised retaining features 140 may reduce the likelihood that clip device 100 slips or changes position with respect to the glasses temple arm inserted into fastener 110.

[0039] For example, a temple arm of a pair of glasses inserted by a user into fastener 110 may be approximately aligned with axis 130 as described above. With the temple arm at the position represented by axis 130, ridge features 117 and / or 118 may contact the temple arm. Because ridge feature 117 may be located on an interior surface of the fastener facing the interior surface on which ridge feature 118 may be located, ridge feature 117 may be configured to contact a first side of the temple arm while ridge feature 118 may be configured to contact a second side of the temple arm that may be opposite to the first side. This contact may result in a clamping force on one or both sides of the temple arm at the points of contact of ridge features 117 and / or 118 with the temple arm. For example, this clamping force may be the result of deformation at points including point 111 experienced by fastener 110 as the user applies force to close fastener 110. In this way, ridge features 117 and / or 118 may be configured to hold the temple arm of the glasses in place, reducing slippage and / or maintaining stability of the glasses in exemplary clip device 100 during periods of elevated user motion. Additionally or alternatively, fastener 110 may include ridge feature 119 that may act to align the temple arm of the glasses inserted into fastener 110, for example ensuring that the temple arm remains parallel or approximately parallel to clip arm 120. In this way, ridge features 117, 118, and / or 119 may be configured to contact and / or be located proximate to an attached glasses temple arm. Similarly, one or more raised retaining features 140 may prevent more significant angular misalignment or movement of the temple arm of the glasses inserted into fastener 110, thereby helping ensure fastener 110 remains in place relative to the temple arm of the glasses.

[0040] In addition to or as an alternative to a clamping force generated on a glasses temple arm received into the opening of fastener 110, clip device 100 once closed may also contact the temple arm of the glasses at clip arm 120. To enable this contact, clip arm 120 may include a beam with one or more portions. For example, a beam of clip arm 120 may include a first straight portion 124 and a second straight portion 128 that may be oriented approximately parallel to first straight portion 124. The beam of clip arm 120 may further include an angled portion 126 that may connect first straight portion 124 to second straight portion 128. Once a temple arm of a pair of glasses has been inserted into fastener 110 and placed at the approximate position of axis 130 and approximately parallel to axis 130, that is approximately parallel to and / or extending along clip arm 120, the temple arm may contact the beam of clip arm 120 at one or more points. For example, the temple arm may contact the beam of clip arm 120 at point 121, between second straight portion 128 and angled portion 126 as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0041] Once tab feature 112 has been deformed into slot feature 114 and fastener 110 closed around the temple arm, the force of closing the fastener may apply a clamping force within fastener 110 and / or may deform clip arm 120 to ensure the temple arm is held securely at one or more, two or more, and / or three or more points of contact. This clip arm deformation, and the material properties of clip device 100 that may enable such deformation are discussed in greater detail below.

[0042] By deforming to accommodate an article of clothing between itself and the glasses temple arm attached to clip device 100, clip arm 120 may be configured to accommodate various types of articles of clothing, different garment shapes, and / or a variety of fabric thicknesses. For example, clip arm 120 may be used to secure glasses to a pocket, a belt, a shirt collar, a jacket lapel, and / or the waistband of a pair of pants. This versatility allows clip arm 120 to hold different articles of clothing securely between itself and the temple arm, ensuring that attached glasses remain easily accessible while minimizing the risk of accidental detachment.

[0043] To unlock or open fastener 110, the user may selectively deform tab feature 112 by applying force to decrease the distance between tab feature 112 and axis 130. For example, a user may apply force to tab feature 112 to induce deformation at points including point 113, thereby moving tip 115 of tab feature 112 further from bottom tip 116 of fastener 110, and allowing tab feature 112 to pass upward through slot 114. This movement may create space between tab feature 112 and slot feature 114, allowing tab feature 112 to disengage from slot feature 114 and to move away from slot feature 114 thereby forming an opening within fastener 110. Such motion of tab feature 112 may again be enabled by elastic deformation at points including point 111. This motion may return tab feature 112 to its undeformed state, as it was prior to the user engaging the latch mechanism. With fastener 110 in an open state, tip 115 of tab feature 112 may be positioned above bottom tip 116 of fastener 110. The resulting opening extending along a direction approximately parallel to clip arm 120 may be sufficiently wide to allow the user to remove the glasses temple arm from fastener 110 and / or to make adjustments to the position and / or orientation of the glasses temple arm within fastener 110.

[0044] FIG. 1C depicts a perspective view of exemplary clip device 100 in which fastener 160 is oriented in the opposite direction from fastener 110 of exemplary clip device 100. This configuration may allow a user to select which temple arm of a pair of glasses the user would prefer to attach the clip device to without changing the orientation and / or placement of the clip device. Other aspects of clip device 100 are similar to corresponding aspects of clip device 100 including clip arm 170 extending from fastener 160 and configured to be parallel to the glasses temple arm to which clip device 100 may be attached, and tab feature 162 separated from slot feature 164. As on clip device 100, this opening on clip device 100 may create an opening to allow fastener 160 to receive a temple arm of a pair of glasses and / or may serve as a latching mechanism, preventing fastener 160 from inadvertently opening.

[0045] With fastener 160 oriented opposite to that of fastener 110, clip device 100 may be configured to be placed on the opposite temple arm of a pair of glasses, while maintaining a similar orientation and on a similar surface of the opposite temple arm (e.g. interior or exterior surface). In some examples, clip device 100, shown in FIG. 1B, may be configured to be placed with tab feature 112 facing upward and clip arm 120 extending along the exterior surface of the left temple arm of a user's glasses. In other examples, clip device 100, as shown in FIG. 1C, may be configured to be placed with tab feature 162 facing upward and clip arm 170 extending along the exterior surface of the right temple arm of a user's glasses.

[0046] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict a top view and a rear view of glasses 204 removably attached to two exemplary clip devices, 200a and 200b. For example, clip devices 200a and 200b may represent two different versions of a clip device and may correspond to clip device 100 shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. That is, as mentioned above, by changing the direction that the fastener of the clip device is oriented, exemplary clip devices may be placed on opposite temple arms while maintaining a similar orientation and surface placement relative to one another. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, clip device 200a may include fastener 210a and clip arm 220a, with fastener 210a optionally configured to be removably attached to right temple arm 208a proximate to hinge 206a of glasses 204. Tab feature 212a of fastener 210a may be configured to be oriented upward when attached to a temple arm such as right temple arm 208a. Clip arm 220a may be configured to extend from fastener 210a and along the exterior surface of right temple arm 208a.

[0047] Similarly, clip device 200b may include fastener 210b and clip arm 220b, with fastener 210b optionally configured to be removably attached to left temple arm 208b proximate to hinge 206b of glasses 204. Tab feature 212b of fastener 210b may be configured to be oriented upward when attached to a temple arm such as left temple arm 208b. Clip arm 220b may be configured to extend from fastener 210b and along the exterior surface of left temple arm 208b. In this way, availability of both clip device 200a and clip device 200b may allow a user to select which to use based on their preference of which side of the glasses they would prefer to attach the clip device.

[0048] Clip arms 220a and 220b of clip devices 200a and 200b respectively may include a beam with one or more portions. For example, a beam of clip arm 220a may include a first straight portion 224a extending along the length of right temple arm 208a from fastener 210a, and a second straight portion 228a that may be oriented approximately parallel to first straight portion 224a. The beam of clip arm 220a may further include an angled portion 226a that may connect first straight portion 224a to second straight portion 228a. Similarly, a beam of clip arm 220b may include a first straight portion 224b extending along the length of left temple arm 208b from fastener 210b, and a second straight portion 228b that may be oriented approximately parallel to first straight portion 224b. The beam of clip arm 220b may further include an angled portion 226b that may connect first straight portion 224b to second straight portion 228b.

[0049] The angle formed between first straight portion 224a and angled portion 226a, angle 225a, and the angle formed between first straight portion 224b and angled portion 226b, angle 225b, may be at least 70 degrees, at least 80 degrees, at least 90 degrees, at least 100 degrees, at least 110 degrees, at least 120 degrees, at least 130 degrees, at least 140 degrees, at least 150 degrees, at least 160 degrees, at least 170 degrees, at least 180 degrees, at most 180 degrees, at most 170 degrees, at most 160 degrees, at most 140 degrees, at most 130 degrees, at most 120 degrees, at most 110 degrees, at most 100 degrees, at most 90 degrees, at most 80 degrees, and / or at most 70 degrees.

[0050] Upon attaching an exemplary clip device to a glasses temple arm and optionally closing the fastener, for example by inserting the tab feature into the slot feature, the fastener may clamp onto the temple arm by contacting the arm at one or more locations. Following closure of the fastener, for example fastener 210a of clip device 200a, clip arm 220a may elastically deform to accommodate right temple arm 208a, for example by elastically deforming at point 222a. In this way, clip arm 220a may contact right temple arm 208a at point 221a thereby contacting arm 208a at an additional point, reducing the likelihood that clip device 200a may slip or change orientation while glasses 204 are stored on the person of a user, for example clipped to a pocket of a user. Thus, with fastener 210a removably attached to right temple arm 208a, second straight portion 228a may be located closer to right temple arm 208a than first straight portion 224a. This can be seen by the fact that second straight portion 228a contacts right temple arm 208a while first straight portion does not contact right temple arm 208a and is instead spaced a distance from right temple arm 208a.

[0051] Similarly, clip arm 220b of clip device 200b may elastically deform to accommodate left temple arm 208b, for example by elastically deforming at point 222b. Clip arm 220b may thus contact left temple arm 208b at point 221b thereby contacting arm 208b at an additional point, reducing the likelihood that clip device 200b may slip or change orientation while glasses 204 are attached to the device. With fastener 210b removably attached to left temple arm 208b, second straight portion 228b may be located closer to left temple arm 208b than first straight portion 224b.

[0052] As used herein, a user wearing glasses such as glasses 204 may refer to the user wearing the glasses on their head, for example with the lens of the glasses covering the user's eyes. Alternatively or additionally, the user may wear the glasses such that the lenses cover a different portion of their head, for example their forehead and / or their crown. As used herein, a user storing glasses such as glasses 204 may refer to the user using a clip device such as clip devices 200a and / or 200b, attached to glasses 204, to attach the glasses to the person of the user while not placed on the user's head. Following attachment of a clip device such as clip devices 200a and / or 200b to the temple arm of glasses such as glasses 204, a user may choose to store the glasses on their person as discussed herein and / or may choose to wear the glasses on their head. The user may choose to wear the glasses with the clip device still attached to the glasses, and / or the user may choose to remove the clip device from the glasses prior to wearing the glasses. When the user removes the clip device from the glasses prior to wearing the glasses, the user may choose to store the clip device on their person by clipping the clip device in a manner described above, and / or by placing the clip device in a pocket or other storage location.

[0053] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict tab feature 312 and slot feature 314 of fastener 310, with exemplary clip device 300 depicted in an open state in FIG. 3A and depicted in a closed state in FIG. 3B. To close an exemplary clip device, a user may, for example, insert tab feature 312 into slot feature 314 of fastener 310. As described below, motion of tab feature 312 may be enabled by elastic deformation occurring at points including points 311 and / or 313.

[0054] As depicted in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3A, clip device 300 may include a clip arm 320 and a fastener 310 with one or more ridge features including, for example, ridge features 317, 318, and / or 319. With a temple arm of a pair of glasses removably attached to clip device 300, ridge features 317 and / or 318 may contact the temple arm when fastener 310 is closed by a user, for example by inserting tab feature 312 into slot feature 314 of fastener 310 as described above. This contact may result in a clamping force applied to one or both sides of the temple arm at points corresponding to ridge features 317 and / or 318. For example, this clamping force may be the result of deformation at points, including point 311, experienced by fastener 310 as the user applies force to close fastener 310. In this way, ridge features 317 and / or 318 may be configured to hold the glasses temple arm in place, reducing slippage and / or maintaining stability of glasses attached to exemplary clip device 300 during periods of elevated user motion, as described above.

[0055] Additionally or alternatively, fastener 310 may include ridge feature 319 that may act to align the glasses temple arm received into the opening of fastener 310. For example, ridge feature 319 may ensure that the glasses temple arm remains parallel or approximately parallel to clip arm 320, thereby enhancing the overall stability and alignment of glasses attached to clip device 300. This additional, alignment ridge feature may reduce rotation and / or other movement of the temple arm within fastener 310, motion that may otherwise reduce the clamping force of ridge features 317 and / or 318, and / or increase the risk of the temple arm becoming misaligned with respect to clip arm 320. Similarly, one or more raised retaining features 340 may prevent more significant angular misalignment or movement of the temple arm of the glasses inserted into fastener 310, thereby helping ensure fastener 310 remaining in place relative to the temple arm of the glasses.

[0056] The components of clip device 300, including fastener 310, clip arm 320, tab 312, slot 314, ridge features 317, 318, and / or 319, and / or one or more raised retaining features 340 may be made from one or more flexible yet durable materials such as polyamide, polyurethane, polylactic acid, and / or polycarbonate. For example, clip device 300 may be made from a thermoplastic polyamide material such as Nylon 12, specifically PA 12 Nylon that has been developed for use with Multi Jet Fusion 3D printers. Use of a flexible material, for example a flexible polyamide material, may allow for reliable clip device performance over many use cycles. A flexible material, for example a flexible polyamide material, may have a tensile strength that is at least 10 MPa, at least 15 MPa, at least 20 MPa, at least 25 MPa, at least 30 MPa, at least 35 MPa, at least 40 MPa, at least 45 MPa, at least 50 MPa, at least 55 MPa, at least 60 MPa, at least 65 MPa, at least 70 MPa, at least 75 MPa, at most 75 MPa, at most 70 MPa, at most 65 MPa, at most 60 MPa, at most 55 MPa, at most 50 MPa, at most 45 MPa, at most 40 MPa, at most 35 MPa, at most 30 MPa, at most 25 MPa, at most 20 MPa, at most 15 MPa, and / or at most 10 MPa. The material may additionally or alternatively have a Young's modulus that is at least 0.5 GPa, at least 0.75 GPa, at least 1 GPa, at least 1.25 GPa, at least 1.5 GPa, at least 1.75 GPa, at least 2 GPa, at least 2.25 GPa, at least 2.5 GPa, at least 2.75 GPa, at least 3 GPa, at most 3 GPa, at most 2.75 GPa, at most 2.5 GPa, at most 2.25 GPa, at most 2 GPa, at most 1.75 GPa, at most 1.5 GPa, at most 1.25 GPa, at most 1 GPa, at most 0.75 GPa, and / or at most 0.5 GPa. These material properties may provide strength to withstand repeated use while maintaining flexibility to enable elastic deformation.

[0057] The use of a flexible material may enable fastener 310 and / or clip arm 320 to elastically deform under normal loading conditions rather than undergoing plastic deformation and / or fracture. This elastic deformation may occur at points including points 311 and / or 313, when a user applies force to secure fastener 310, by manipulating tab feature 312 to engage with and / or pass through slot feature 314. This elastic deformation may additionally or alternatively occur within clip arm 320, for example as the temple arm contact one or more points of the clip arm when fastener 310 is secured by the user. Such temporary deformations may be important in creating the clamping forces that hold the glasses temple arm to which clip device 300 is attached. The ability of the material making up clip device 300 to return to its original state upon release of force ensures that the clamping force may be maintained effectively without permanent deformation, thereby increasing the reliability of clip device 300 over multiple attachment and detachment cycles.

[0058] With ridge features 317, 318, and / or 319 optionally made from the same flexible material, such ridge features may derive similar benefits corresponding to material elasticity and / or durability. For example, when a glasses temple arm is inserted into the opening of fastener 310, ridge features 317 and / or 318 may elastically deform to apply a clamping force to one or both sides of the temple arm. This clamping force, facilitated by the elastic deformation of the one or more ridge features, may be important in reducing slippage and / or ensuring positional stability of the temple arm, especially during periods of elevated user motion.

[0059] Forming clip device 300 out of a relatively soft plastic material, such as flexible polyamide and / or thermoplastic polyurethane, may reduce the likelihood of damage to the glasses temple arm. For example, harder and / or more rigid materials may scratch and / or dent the temple arm, especially when force is applied to secure the fastener of the clip device. By contrast, softer and / or more flexible materials may provide a cushioning effect, reducing the risk of scratches and / or other surface damage to the glasses lens and / or frame. By optionally elastically deforming, ridge features 317, 318, and / or 319 may exert a clamping force onto the glasses temple arm without significant damage to the surface finish of the temple arm.

[0060] Additionally or alternatively, one or more surfaces of the clip device, for example one or more interior surfaces of fastener 310 may include an elastomeric material that may be configured to reduce motion of a glasses temple arm to which the fastener is removably attached. For example, inclusion of elastomeric material on one or more interior surfaces of fastener 310 may increase the friction between a temple arm surface and a surface of fastener 310, thereby reducing the likelihood that the temple arm will shift or slip within fastener 310.

[0061] In some implementations, the elastomeric material may be applied to particular regions of one or more interior surfaces of fastener 310 including, for example, on and / or around ridge features 317, 318, and / or 319. Addition of such a layer may help to maintain the attached temple arm in a stable position while the user is engaged in activities involving frequent movement, such as running or bending, where slippage might otherwise occur. Further, the elastomeric material may act as a cushioning layer, providing a softer contact point for the temple arm. This cushioning effect may help in preventing scratches or other surface damage to the temple arm that could potentially occur from repeated contact with the surfaces of fastener 310. The elastomeric material may be selected from materials such as silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and / or similar compounds that balance flexibility and durability. These materials may provide a frictional surface with minimal degradation over multiple cycles of attachment and / or detachment.

[0062] Clip device 300 may be manufactured using one or more additive manufacturing, injection molding, and / or machining techniques. For example, additive manufacturing methods, such as Multi Jet Fusion and / or Selective Laser Sintering, may be used to produce clip device 300 from materials such as polyamide and / or thermoplastic polyurethane. Use of such additive manufacturing techniques may allow design features such as ridge features 317, 318, and / or 319, and / or tab feature 312, to be generated in a single manufacturing step. Alternatively or additionally, injection molding may be used for high-volume production of clip device 300 from materials such as polycarbonate and / or thermoplastic elastomers. Machining techniques, such as CNC machining, may also be used for production of clip device 300, providing precise dimensional tolerances and / or addition of custom features based on user requirements.

[0063] An exemplary clip device, for example clip device 400 depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B, may include a fastener 410 and a clip arm 420. Clip arm 420 may include an interior surface, such as interior surface 402 shown in FIG. 4A, and an exterior surface opposite to the interior surface, such as exterior surface 406 shown in FIG. 4B. Interior surface 402 of clip arm 420 may be continuous with an interior surface of fastener 410, for example interior surface 403. That is, at point 404, interior surface 402 of clip arm 420 may meet interior surface 403 of fastener 410 without forming a gap. Similarly, exterior surface 406 of clip arm 420 may be continuous with an exterior surface of fastener 410, for example exterior surface 407. That is, at point 408, exterior surface 406 of clip arm 420 may meet exterior surface 407 of fastener 410 without forming a gap. As shown in FIG. 4B, fastener 410 may include one or more raised retaining features 440, for example the two raised retaining features depicted on each end of fastener 410.

[0064] FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary process for removably attaching glasses to an article of clothing using a clip device. At step 502, a glasses temple arm may be inserted into a fastener of the clip device such that a clip arm of the clip device extends along the length of the temple arm. The fastener may include a latching mechanism and a housing configured to elastically deform when closing around the temple arm, thereby clamping and / or aligning the temple arm to ensure it is held securely in place. At step 504, the clip device may be removably attached to an article of clothing, such as a pocket, belt, and / or jacket lapel, such that the article of clothing is held between the glasses temple arm and the clip arm of the clip device. In this way, a user may temporarily and securely store glasses on their person thereby reducing the risk of damage to and / or loss of the glasses while not being worn by the user.

[0065] The foregoing description, for the purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments and / or examples. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the techniques and their practical applications. Others skilled in the art are thereby enabled to best utilize the techniques and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A clip device for removably attaching glasses to an article of clothing, the clip device comprising:a fastener configured to removably attach to a temple arm of the glasses, the fastener defining an opening for receiving the temple arm of the glasses; anda clip arm extending from the fastener such that the clip arm extends along the temple arm when the temple arm is received in the opening, the clip arm being configured to hold the article of clothing between the temple arm and the clip arm to removably attach the glasses to the article of clothing.

2. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the clip arm is a beam comprising:at a first end of the beam, a first portion extending along the length of the temple arm from the fastener,at a second end of the beam, a second portion extending along the length of the temple arm, anda third portion that connects the first portion to the second portion such that, when the fastener is removably attached to the temple arm, the second portion is closer to the temple arm than the first portion.

3. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured to receive the temple arm such that the clip arm is approximately parallel to the temple arm.

4. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured such that the temple arm extends along a direction that is approximately parallel to the clip arm.

5. The clip device of claim 4, wherein the fastener is configured to selectively open to receive the temple arm and selectively close to secure the fastener around the temple arm.

6. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a latching mechanism configured to prevent the fastener from opening while the clip device is removably attached to the article of clothing.

7. The clip device of claim 6, wherein the latching mechanism comprises:a tab configured to selectively deform when subjected to an applied force;a slot configured to engage with the tab upon deformation, thereby preventing the fastener from opening while the clip device is removably attached to the article of clothing.

8. The clip device of claim 1, wherein:the fastener comprises one or more ridge features located on an interior surface of the fastener; andthe one or more ridge features extend along a direction that is approximately parallel to the clip arm and are configured to be located proximate to the temple arm.

9. The clip device of claim 1, wherein:the fastener comprises two or more ridge features located on an interior surface of the fastener;the two or more ridge features extend along a direction that is approximately parallel to the clip arm and are configured to be located proximate to the temple arm.

10. The clip device of claim 1, wherein:the fastener comprises one or more first ridge features located on a first interior surface of the fastener and one or more second ridge features located on a second interior surface of the fastener facing the first interior surface;the one or more first ridge features and the one or more second ridge features extend along a direction that is approximately parallel to the clip arm; andthe one or more first ridge features are configured to contact a first side of the temple arm and the one or more second ridge features are configured to contact a second side of the temple arm opposite to the first side.

11. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the clip device comprises a flexible polyamide material.

12. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the clip device comprises a material having a tensile strength between 40 MPa and 55 MPa.

13. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the clip device comprises a material having a Young's modulus between 1.5 GPa and 2 GPa.

14. The clip device of claim 1, wherein one or more surfaces of the clip device comprise an elastomeric material configured to reduce motion of the temple arm.

15. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the clip arm extends along an exterior surface of the temple arm when the temple arm is received in the opening.

16. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured to removably attach to the temple arm of the glasses proximate to a hinge of the glasses.

17. The clip device of claim 1, wherein the clip device is configured to removably attach to the article of clothing at a collar, a pocket, a belt, or any combination thereof.

18. Glasses, the glasses comprising:a temple arm and a clip device for removably attaching the glasses to an article of clothing, the clip device comprising:a fastener configured to removably attach to a temple arm of the glasses, the fastener defining an opening for receiving the temple arm of the glasses; anda clip arm extending from the fastener such that the clip arm extends along the temple arm when the temple arm is received in the opening, the clip arm being configured to hold the article of clothing between the temple arm and the clip arm to removably attach the glasses to the article of clothing.

19. A method of removably attaching glasses to an article of clothing using a clip device, the method comprising:inserting a temple arm of the glasses into a fastener of the clip device such that a clip arm of the clip device extends along the temple arm; andremovably attaching the clip device to the article of clothing such that the article of clothing is held between the temple arm and the clip arm.

Images