The invention relates to sunglasses and more specifically to a clip-on sunglasses assembly that can be removably attached to the brim of a hat. Background Art

There are times when a person wearing a pair of sunglasses prefers to have their vision unobscured by the sunglasses. Presently there are two options available to the person. One requires that a person remove the sunglasses and either hold them or place them in their pocket, purse, or other storage area. The second alternative is to have a strap or string connected to the rear end of the temple members of the sunglasses that allows the sunglasses to hang around a person's neck. When a person is frequently changing between having the sunglasses on and off, the existing alternatives are inconvenient.

The Day U.S. patent 4,819,274 has provided a solution to the problem which allows the sunglasses to be quickly and easily flipped up to a position removed from a person's line of vision or flipped to a position that intercepts their line of vision. A major drawback to Day's structure is the fact that the mounting structure for his mounting block has to be preformed in the bottom surface of the brim of a cap. The sunglasses assembly is not removable so that it can be used with other caps or hats.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel clip-on

sunglasses assembly that can be detachably secured to the brim of a hat or ball cap.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel clip-on sunglasses assembly that can be quickly and easily installed or removed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel clip-on sunglasses assembly that can be quickly and easily transferred from the brim of one hat to the brim of another hat.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel clip-on sunglasses assembly that is economical to manufacture and market.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel clip-on sunglasses assembly that has the top edge of the lens detachably secured to a unique spring action sled that can be reciprocally moved toward or away from the person wearing the hat when the lens is in its down position or its up position.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a novel clip-on sunglasses assembly that is made of a minimum number of parts that can be quickly assembled or disassembled.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The clip-on sunglasses assembly has been primarily designed for use with a ball cap but it can also be used with any type of hat having a forwardly extending brim. The primary components of the assembly is a base member, a cover panel, a spring action sled, a lens holder member, a lens and a nose piece. The lens

would preferably be made of optical grade thermoplastic material and the remaining structure, with the exception of the nose piece would be made of a rigid plastic material.

The base member has a substantially rectangular shape and a clip member is integrally formed with the base member and it extends rearwardly over its top surface. There is a substantially rectangularly shaped cutout portion within the base member that forms a track for the sled so that it can travel in a reciprocating back and forth motion. The spring action sled can travel along most of the length of the base member.

The spring action sled is inserted into the base member from its top surface and laterally extending flanges on the spring action sled prevent it from dropping through the cutout portion. There is a countersunk recess in the top surface of the base member that receives a cover panel that prevents the spring action sled from falling out of the base member in case it is turned upside down.

The spring action sled has a drum enclosure hook extending downwardly from its bottom surface adjacent its rear end and incorporating a lug to limit rotation of the holder inward toward the wearer's face. A spring finger extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the sled adjacent the front end. The spring finger extends toward the drum enclosure hook abruptly turning upward forming an elbow which traps the holder drum and it has an upwardly extending hook portion formed adjacent its rearward end. The hook elbow and the drum enclosure hook are spaced a

predetermined distance apart for removably receiving a cylindrical shaped drum member that forms part of the structure of the lens holder. There are a pair of protrusions on the drum member and a mating recess on the hook portion that provides a detent positive structure for positioning the lens holder member in a substantially vertical or a substantially horizontal position.

The lens holder member has a pair of laterally spaced arms with studs extending up from them that pass through apertures in the lens and nose piece which are then secured in position by push nuts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a front elevation view showing the clip-on sunglasses assembly secured to the brim of a ball cap with the lens flipped down into a position in front of the wearer's eyes;

Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the clip-on sunglasses assembly partly in cross section showing the lens, the holder and nose piece in its downward position;

Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation view of the clip-on sunglasses assembly showing a portion in cross section with the lens, the holder and nose piece in its upper position;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the base member;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the clip member of the base frame;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the cover panel;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the spring action sled;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a side elevation view of the spring action sled;

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the lens holder member;

Figure 13 is a side elevation view of the lens holder member;

Figures 14-17 are schematic side elevation views showing the progression from the insertion of the drum of the lens holder member into the drum enclosure hook elbow of the spring action sled and the hook portion of the spring finger of the sled;

Figure 18 shows a rear elevation of the nose piece;

Figure 19 shows a side elevation of the nose piece;

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The novel clip-on sunglasses assembly will now be described by referring to Figures 1-19 of the drawings. The clip-on sunglasses assembly is generally designated numeral 20. In Figure 1 the clip-on sunglasses assembly 20 is shown mounted on the brim 22 of a ball cap 24. Lens 26 is shown in its down

position and it has a nose piece 25.

Figures 2 and 3 show the clip-on sunglasses assembly 20 by itself with certain portions shown in cross section. Base frame member 28 has an integrally formed spring clip member 30. Sled

32 is reciprocally mounted in rectangularly shaped cutout portion

33 of base member 28. Lens holder member 35 has a cylindrical shaped drum 36 that is pivotally mounted in the bottom of the spring action sled 32. A pair of laterally spaced studs 38 are formed on the rear surface of lens holder 35 and they pass through apertures 39 in lens 26 nose piece 25 and are secured therein by push nuts 40. Cover panel 42 prevents the removal of spring action sled 32 from base member 28. In figure 3 lens 26 is shown in its upward position.

The specific structure of base frame member 28 is best illustrated in Figures 4-6. Base member 28 has a pair of laterally spaced frame members 45 and 46 whose opposite ends are connected together by front cross member 47 and rear cross member 48. Cutout portion 33 is substantially rectangularly shaped and has a length LI and a width Wl. Shoulders 50 and 51 are formed on the respective longitudinal frame members 45 and 46 and provide a surface for the laterally extending flanges 71 and 72 of the spring action sled to ride upon. Laterally spaced outer members 93 and 94 engage the end of the holder drum 36 limiting the lateral movement of the holder 35 and its attachments. Cutout portion 33 and longitudinal frame members 45 and 46 form a track for the sled 32 to travel along the available length of the

base frame member 28. A countersunk recess 54 is formed in the top surface of base member 28 for removably receiving cover panel 42. Spring clip 30 is integrally formed with base member 28. The bottom surface of spring clip 30 has a plurality of ridges 56 that function to grip the top surface of the brim of a cap to which the clip-on sunglasses assembly has been positioned.

Cover panel 42 is shown separately in Figures 7 and 8. It has a textured surface 58 with ridges 60 that function to grip the bottom surface of the brim 22 of a ball cap or hat 24. The rear end of cover panel 42 has a latch finger 62 that engages cooperating structure in slot 64 of base member 28.

The spring action sled 32 is best illustrated in Figures 9- 11. It has a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending members 66 and 67 whose opposite ends are connected by front cross member 68 and rear cross member 69 to form a central opening 70. Flanges 71 and 72 extend from the respective longitudinal members 66 and 67. A drum enclosure hook portion 74 extends upwardly from rear cross member 69 and it has a groove 75 formed in its front surface. A lug 83 positioned at bottom of hook 74 limits rotation of holder member 35 and its attachments. A spring finger 77 extends upwardly and rearwardly from front cross member 68. It has mating a hook portion 79 on its front end having a detent 80 and a groove 81 in its front surface.

Lens holder 35 is individually illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. It has a cylindrically shaped drum 36 having protrusions 84 and 85 spaced from each other approximately 110 degrees.

Laterally spaced arms 87 and 88 have studs 38 extending up from their top surface which mate with apertures 39 in lens 26 and apertures in nose piece 25. The manner in which drum 83 is captured between drum enclosure hook 74 and hook portion 79 is best illustrated in Figures 14-17. These Figures also show how the protrusions 84 and 85 are positively captured in detent 80 to provide both a down position and an up position for lens 26 and nose piece 25. Lug member 93 extending downward from holder abuts lug member 83 of sled 32 when lens is in lowered position. This lug 93 and lug 83 positively limit rotation of holder and its attachments beyond the usable position, limiting possibility of rotating lens into the wearer's face.

Now piece 25 is illustrated in Figures 18 and 19. The nose piece 25 is fixed to the lens holder 35 and lens 37. Holder lugs 38 pass through lens apertures 39 and nose piece aperture 89 and are fixed by push nuts 40. Nose piece 25 is made from a soft resilient plastic such as polyethylene. Nose pads 90 position the lens assembly 20 to the wearers bridge of nose. The nose piece hook 91 locks nose piece 25 to lens 26. Bridge pad 92 positions the lens assembly 20 from the wearer's forehead.