US20090045079A1

US20090045079A1 - Optical casing with skylight arrangement

Info

Publication number: US20090045079A1
Application number: US11/893,164
Authority: US
Inventors: Kinsen Ka Fai Au
Original assignee: Nationalpak Ltd
Current assignee: NATIONALPARK Ltd; Nationalpak Ltd
Priority date: 2007-08-14
Filing date: 2007-08-14
Publication date: 2009-02-19

Abstract

An optical casing for spectacles includes a case body defining a receiving cavity, and a skylight arrangement. The skylight arrangement contains a top skylight opening formed on a top ceiling of the case body, and includes a skylight panel, having a cross sectional shape corresponding with a shape of the skylight opening, movably mounted on the case body to slide between an opened position and a closed position, wherein in the opened position, the skylight panel is selectively slid along the skylight opening for exposing the receiving cavity to an exterior of the case body so as to allow visual and physical access of the spectacles via the skylight opening, wherein in the closed position, the skylight panel is slid along the skylight opening to close the skylight opening for blocking physical and visual access between the receiving cavity and an exterior of the case body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to spectacles, and more particularly to an optical casing for a spectacles which comprises a skylight arrangement having a skylight opening for selectively allowing convenient access to the spectacles via the skylight opening.
2. Description of Related Arts
A conventional optical casing usually comprises a main body having a receiving cavity for normally receiving a spectacles within the receiving cavity, a cover and a resilient hinge or a coil spring coupling the main body and the cover in such a manner that the cover is capable of overlappedly folding on top of the main body for closing the receiving cavity of the main body. In some cases, a button is provided on the main body to mechanically communicate with the cover for normally retaining the cover on top of the main body. When the button is manually activated, the cover will automatically disengage from the main body so as to expose the receiving cavity with an exterior of the optical casing for allowing access to the spectacles.
Unfortunately, there are a number of disadvantages concerning the above-mentioned optical casing. First, during a period of operation, the resilient hinge or coil spring will become loose after extended use of the optical casing. Therefore, the cover and the main body can not be tightly snapped to securely store the spectacles within the receiving cavity. In worse scenarios, the overall physical integrity of the resilient hinge or the coil spring may severely deteriorate so that the optical casing simply cannot be used anymore.
Second, the structure of this kind of conventional optical casing is complicated in that it must incorporate some accessories (such as the resilient hinge) in order to accomplish its intended function. This leads to increased manufacturing cost and time.
Moreover, since the main body and the cover are tightly biasing against each other for avoiding accidental opening of the receiving cavity, the user has to use both of his or her hands to open or close the optical casing. This may present inconvenience to the users in some circumstances. For example, when the user is driving and turning into a direction which faces the sun, and the optical casing is receiving a pair of sunglasses, the user may wish to open the optical casing and quickly wear the sunglasses for the shading sunlight. In this scenario, the design of conventional optical casing may prevent the user from conveniently opening the casing and gain access to the receiving cavity, not least because the user needs to use both of his or her hands (which are now holding the steering wheel) to open the optical casing.
In order to solve the above problems, those skilled in the art have developed another kind of optical cases. This kind of optical cases generally comprises two cylinder-shaped sleeves, wherein each of the sleeves has an opening at one end for fittingly inserting into each other, wherein one of the two sleeves has a main body portion, and a throat portion extended from the main body portion. The user has to insert the main body portion of one of the sleeves into the other sleeve until the two sleeves couple with each other. There exists no complicated structure or any resilient element within this case. But there exists another pressing problem that the sleeves will deform after a period of use, such that the case cannot securely hold the spectacles therewithin.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide an optical casing for spectacles which comprises a skylight arrangement having a skylight opening for selectively allowing convenient access to the spectacles via the skylight opening.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical casing for spectacles which is easy and convenient to use, such that a user needs only one hand for accessing the spectacles normally stored within the optical casing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical casing for spectacles, which comprises a case body having a receiving cavity, and a skylight panel slidably mounted onto the case body, such that a user is able to open or close the receiving cavity simply by conveniently sliding the skylight panel. In other words, the present invention is optimal for use in a wide variety of circumstances.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical casing for spectacles which does not involve complicated mechanical structure so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the present invention.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an optical casing for spectacles, comprising:
a case body which has a bottom wall, at least one side wall, and a top ceiling to define a receiving cavity within the bottom wall, the side wall and the top ceiling, wherein the receiving cavity is adapted for normally receiving the spectacles within the receiving cavity; and
a skylight arrangement which contains a top skylight opening formed on the top ceiling of the case body for communicating the receiving cavity with an exterior of the case body, and comprises a skylight panel, having a cross sectional shape corresponding with a shape of the skylight opening, movably mounted on the case body to slide between an opened position and a closed position, wherein in the opened position, the skylight panel is selectively slid along the skylight opening for exposing the receiving cavity to an exterior of the case body so as to allow visual and physical access of the spectacles via the skylight opening, wherein in the closed position, the skylight panel is slid along the skylight opening to close the skylight opening blocking physical and visual access between the receiving cavity and an exterior of the case body.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are perspective views of an optical casing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are sectional side views of the optical casing according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B of the drawings, an optical casing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the optical casing comprises a case body 10, and a skylight arrangement 20. The optical casing of the present invention is for receiving a pair of conventional spectacles 80, or sunglasses.
The case body 10 has a bottom wall 11, two side walls 12, and a top ceiling 13 to define a receiving cavity 14 within the bottom wall 11, the side wall 12 and the top ceiling 13, wherein the receiving cavity 14 is adapted for normally receiving the spectacles 80 therewithin.
The skylight arrangement 20 contains a top skylight opening 21 formed on the top ceiling 13 of the case body 10 for communicating the receiving cavity 14 with an exterior of the case body 10, and comprises a skylight panel 22, having a cross sectional shape corresponding with a shape of the skylight opening 21, movably mounted on the case body 10 to slide between an opened position and a closed position, wherein in the opened position, the skylight panel 22 is selectively slid along the skylight opening 21 for exposing the receiving cavity 14 to an exterior of the case body 10 so as to allow visual and physical access of the spectacles 80 via the skylight opening 21, wherein in the closed position, the skylight panel 22 is slid along the skylight opening 21 to close the skylight opening for blocking physical and visual access between the receiving cavity 14 and an exterior of the case body 10.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the case body 10 is made of rigid material, such as plastic material, for ensuring that the shape of the receiving cavity 14 will not be distorted so as to prevent accidental collapse of the case body 10. In other words, the spectacles 80 stored within the case body 10 can be substantially protected against a reasonable amount of external force.
The skylight arrangement 20 further comprises a plurality of side sliding tracks 23 spacedly and indently formed on two side rims 211 of the top skylight opening 21 respectively, wherein two side edge portions 221 of the skylight panel 22 are arranged to slidably engage with the side sliding tracks 23 respectively for sliding between the opened position and the closed position. Thus, a distance between the two side sliding tracks 23 is substantially equal to the width of the skylight panel 22 so that when the skylight panel 22 is in the closed position, the receiving cavity 14 can be completely closed for blocking all physical and visual access to the receiving cavity 14 from an exterior of the case body 10.
More specifically, each of the side sliding tracks 23 defines an L-shaped sliding groove 231 formed at the two side rims 211 of the top skylight opening 21 wherein the corresponding side edge portion 221 of the skylight panel 22 is arranged to slidably attach on the sliding groove 231 for engaging with the case body 10. It is worth mentioning that the skylight panel 22 has a curved and downwardly inclined cross sectional shape extending from a rear edge to a front edge thereof while the top ceiling 13 of the case body 10 also has a correspondingly curved and inclined cross sectional shape so that a top surface of the skylight panel 22 is fittedly aligned with the top ceiling 13 of the case body 10. As such, the skylight arrangement 20 fits optimally with the case body 10 of the optical casing of the present invention.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the skylight panel 22 is adapted to sliding upward and downwardly for moving between the opened position and the closed position respectively. In other words, when the skylight panel 22 slides upwardly to expose the receiving cavity 14, a user is able to visually observe and access the spectacles 80 within the receiving cavity 14. On the other hand, when the skylight panel 22 slides downwardly to enclose the receiving cavity 14, the user is unable to observe or reach the spectacles 80 from an exterior of the case body 10.
Accordingly, the skylight arrangement 20 further has a stopper track 24 transversely extended between the two side sliding tracks 23 and formed as a bottom rim portion 212 of the skylight opening 21 for stopping a downward sliding movement of the skylight panel 22. Thus, the stopper track 24 also defines an L-shaped stopper groove 241 formed at the bottom rim 212 of the top skylight opening 21 wherein the corresponding front edge 222 of the skylight panel 22 is arranged to slidably engage with the stopper groove 241 when the skylight panel 22 is at the closed position. As a result, a length of the skylight panel 22 is substantially the same as the length of the side sliding tracks 23 so that when the skylight panel 22 is at the closed position, the skylight panel 22 is adapted to fittedly retained on the case body 10 for enclosing the receiving cavity 14 in an aesthetically appealing manner.
The skylight arrangement 20 further comprises a locking device 25 provided on the sliding tracks 23 for locking a further upward movement of the skylight panel 22 when the skylight panel 22 is at the opened position. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking device 25 comprises at least one locking pin 251 transversely protruded from two side edge portions 221 of the skylight panel 22 whereas each of the corresponding sliding tracks 23 has a locking groove 252 indently formed thereon in such a manner that when the skylight panel 22 is at the opened position, a rear end of the locking groove 252 is arranged to bias against the locking pin 251 which then locks up the position of the skylight panel 22. Moreover, the locking pins 251 are also used to prevent the skylight panel 22 from disengaging from the sliding tracks 23 when the case body 10 is turned upside down. Obviously, the position of the locking grooves 252 and the locking pins 251 can also be interchanged to accomplish the very same locking function of the locking device 25. Other locking mechanism may also be used without violating the subject matter of the present invention.
The operation of the present invention is as follows: a user may put his or her spectacles 80 within the receiving cavity 14 of the case body 10. The case body 10 may normally be closed by sliding the skylight panel 22 at the closed position. The skylight panel 22 is stopped by the stopper track 24. The case body 10 is then portable with the user or it can be placed on a predetermined position. When the user wishes to retrieve the spectacles 80 from the optical casing, he or she needs only to slide the skylight panel 22 upwardly along the sliding tracks 23 for exposing the receiving cavity 14 to an exterior of the case body 10. Then the user is able to conveniently and easily retrieve the spectacles 80 from the receiving cavity 14 via the skylight opening 21 of the skylight arrangement 20. It is important to point out that the user may retrieve the spectacles 80 (or sunglasses) from the receiving cavity 14 by one hand only, thereby maintaining his or her activity (such as driving) through the other hand.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An optical casing for spectacles, comprising:

a case body which has a bottom wall, at least one side wall, and a top ceiling to define a receiving cavity within said bottom wall, said side wall and said top ceiling, wherein said receiving cavity is adapted for normally receiving said spectacles within said receiving cavity; and

a skylight arrangement which contains a top skylight opening formed on said top ceiling of said case body for communicating said receiving cavity with an exterior of said case body, and comprises a skylight panel, having a cross sectional shape corresponding with a shape of said skylight opening, movably mounted on said case body to slide between an opened position and a closed position, wherein in said opened position, said skylight panel is selectively slid along said skylight opening for exposing said receiving cavity to an exterior of said case body so as to allow visual and physical access of said spectacles via said skylight opening, wherein in said closed position, said skylight panel is slid along said skylight opening to close said skylight opening for blocking physical and visual access between said receiving cavity and an exterior of said case body.

2. The optical casing, as recited in claim 1, wherein said skylight arrangement further comprises a plurality of side sliding tracks spacedly and indently formed on two side rims of said top skylight opening respectively, wherein two side edge portions of said skylight panel are arranged to slidably engage with said side sliding tracks respectively for sliding between said opened position and said closed position.

3. The optical casing, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said side sliding tracks defines an L-shaped sliding groove formed at said two side rims of said top skylight opening wherein said corresponding side edge portion of said skylight panel is arranged to slidably attached onto said sliding groove for slidably engaging with said case body.

4. The optical casing, as recited in claim 1 wherein said skylight panel has a curved and downwardly inclined cross sectional shape from a rear edge to a front edge thereof while said top ceiling of said case body also has a correspondingly curved and inclined cross sectional shape so that a top surface of said skylight panel is fittedly aligned with said top ceiling of said case body, so that said skylight arrangement fits optimally with said case body for completely closing said receiving cavity when said skylight panel is in said closed position.

5. The optical casing, as recited in claim 2, wherein said skylight panel has a curved and downwardly inclined cross sectional shape from a rear edge to a front edge thereof while said top ceiling of said case body also has a correspondingly curved and inclined cross sectional shape so that a top surface of said skylight panel is fittedly aligned with said top ceiling of said case body, so that said skylight arrangement fits optimally with said case body for completely closing said receiving cavity when said skylight panel is in said closed position.

6. The optical casing, as recited in claim 3, wherein said skylight panel has a curved and downwardly inclined cross sectional shape from a rear edge to a front edge thereof while said top ceiling of said case body also has a correspondingly curved and inclined cross sectional shape so that a top surface of said skylight panel is fittedly aligned with said top ceiling of said case body, so that said skylight arrangement fits optimally with said case body for completely closing said receiving cavity when said skylight panel is in said closed position.

7. The optical casing, as recited in claim 1, wherein said skylight arrangement further has a stopper track transversely extended between said two side sliding tracks and formed as a bottom rim portion of said skylight opening for stopping a downward sliding movement of said skylight panel at said front edge thereof.

8. The optical casing, as recited in claim 4, wherein said skylight arrangement further has a stopper track transversely extended between said two side sliding tracks and formed as a bottom rim portion of said skylight opening for stopping a downward sliding movement of said skylight panel at said front edge thereof.

9. The optical casing, as recited in claim 5, wherein said skylight arrangement further has a stopper track transversely extended between said two side sliding tracks and formed as a bottom rim portion of said skylight opening for stopping a downward sliding movement of said skylight panel at said front edge thereof.

10. The optical casing, as recited in claim 6, wherein said skylight arrangement further has a stopper track transversely extended between said two side sliding tracks and formed as a bottom rim portion of said skylight opening for stopping a downward sliding movement of said skylight panel at said front edge thereof.

11. The optical casing, as recited in claim 7, wherein said stopper track defines an L-shaped stopper groove formed at a bottom rim of said top skylight opening wherein said corresponding front edge of said skylight panel is arranged to slidably engage with said stopper groove when said skylight panel is at said closed position.

12. The optical casing, as recited in claim 8, wherein said stopper track defines an L-shaped stopper groove formed at a bottom rim of said top skylight opening wherein said corresponding front edge of said skylight panel is arranged to slidably engage with said stopper groove when said skylight panel is at said closed position.

13. The optical casing, as recited in claim 9, wherein said stopper track defines an L-shaped stopper groove formed at a bottom rim of said top skylight opening wherein said corresponding front edge of said skylight panel is arranged to slidably engage with said stopper groove when said skylight panel is at said closed position.

14. The optical casing, as recited in claim 10, wherein said stopper track defines an L-shaped stopper groove formed at a bottom rim of said top skylight opening wherein said corresponding front edge of said skylight panel is arranged to slidably engage with said stopper groove when said skylight panel is at said closed position.

15. The optical casing, as recited in claim 1 1, wherein a length of said skylight panel is substantially the same as a length of said side sliding tracks so that when said skylight panel is at said closed position, said skylight panel is adapted to fittedly retain on said case body for completely enclosing said receiving cavity in an aesthetically appealing manner.

16. The optical casing, as recited in claim 12, wherein a length of said skylight panel is substantially the same as a length of said side sliding tracks so that when said skylight panel is at said closed position, said skylight panel is adapted to fittedly retain on said case body for completely enclosing said receiving cavity in an aesthetically appealing manner.

17. The optical casing, as recited in claim 13, wherein a length of said skylight panel is substantially the same as a length of said side sliding tracks so that when said skylight panel is at said closed position, said skylight panel is adapted to fittedly retain on said case body for completely enclosing said receiving cavity in an aesthetically appealing manner.

18. The optical casing, as recited in claim 14, wherein a length of said skylight panel is substantially the same as a length of said side sliding tracks so that when said skylight panel is at said closed position, said skylight panel is adapted to fittedly retain on said case body for completely enclosing said receiving cavity in an aesthetically appealing manner.

19. The optical casing, as recited in claim 17, wherein said skylight arrangement further comprises a locking device provided on said sliding tracks for locking a further upward movement of said skylight panel when said skylight panel is at said opened position.

20. The optical casing, as recited in claim 18, wherein said skylight arrangement further comprises a locking device provided on said sliding tracks for locking a further upward movement of said skylight panel when said skylight panel is at said opened position.