Foldable glasses case
View Patent ↗The invention concerns a glasses case including a bottom panel, a frame and four side walls, which case has a folded configuration in which a first panel and a second panel of each wall of a first pair of side walls are inclined towards each other pointing outwardly whereas a first panel and a second panel of each wall of a second pair of side walls are inclined towards each other pointing inwardly, and a deployed configuration in which a first panel and a second panel of each side wall are inclined towards each other pointing inwardly, and a first panel and a second panel of each wall of the first pair of side walls bear on the remaining sides of the panels of the second pair of side walls.
1. A glasses case having a deployed configuration and a folded configuration, comprising:
a bottom panel ( 2 ) having a perimeter formed by four sides ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ), respectively a first side ( 21 ) and a second side ( 22 ) which are opposite sides as well as a third side ( 23 ) and a fourth side ( 24 ) which are opposite sides;
a frame ( 7 ) surrounding an entry opening ( 10 ), which frame ( 7 ) faces the bottom panel ( 2 ) and has an outer perimeter formed by four sides ( 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ), respectively a first side ( 71 ) and a second side ( 72 ) which are opposite sides as well as a third side ( 73 ) and a fourth side ( 74 ) which are opposite sides; and
four side walls ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ), respectively a first side wall ( 3 ) extending between the first side of the bottom panel ( 21 ) and the first side ( 71 ) of the frame, a second side wall ( 4 ) extending between the second side ( 22 ) of the bottom panel and the second side ( 72 ) of the frame, a third side wall ( 5 ) extending between the third side ( 23 ) of the bottom panel and the third side ( 73 ) of the frame, a fourth side wall ( 6 ) extending between the fourth side ( 24 ) of the bottom panel and the fourth side ( 74 ) of the frame; each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) comprising a first panel ( 31 , 41 , 51 , 61 ) and a second panel ( 32 , 42 , 52 , 62 ) that are hinged to each other by a first side ( 311 , 411 , 511 , 611 ; 321 , 421 , 521 , 621 ), the first panel ( 31 , 41 , 51 , 61 ) having a second side ( 312 , 412 , 512 , 612 ), that is an opposite side to the first side ( 311 , 411 , 511 , 611 ), by which it is hinged to the bottom panel ( 2 ), the second panel ( 32 , 42 , 52 , 62 ) having a second side ( 322 , 422 , 522 , 622 ), that is an opposite side to the first side ( 321 , 421 , 521 , 621 ), by which it is hinged to the frame ( 2 ); the first and second side walls ( 3 , 4 ) forming a first pair of opposite side walls, the third and fourth side walls ( 5 , 6 ) forming a second pair of opposite side walls, the panels of the second pair of side walls ( 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) having a trapezoidal perimeter with their first side ( 511 , 521 , 611 , 621 ) shorter than their second side ( 512 , 522 , 612 , 622 ) and their two remaining sides ( 513 , 514 , 523 , 524 , 613 , 614 , 623 , 624 ) slanted;
the first panel and the second panel ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 ) of each wall of the first pair of side walls ( 3 , 4 ) being inclined towards each other pointing outwardly while the first panel and the second panel ( 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each wall of the second pair of side walls ( 5 , 6 ) being inclined towards each other pointing inwardly, in the folded configuration of the case ( 1 ); and
the first panel and the second panel ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) being inclined towards each other pointing inwardly, and the first panel and the second panel ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 ) of each wall of the first pair of side walls ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 ) bearing on the remaining sides ( 513 , 514 , 523 , 524 , 613 , 614 , 623 , 624 ) of the panels ( 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of the second pair of side walls ( 5 , 6 ), in the deployed configuration of the case ( 1 );
said glasses case further comprising a first retaining system comprising at least a first member disposed on or being a panel ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 ) of a wall of the first pair of side walls ( 3 , 4 ), and at least a second member ( 100 ) disposed on a panel ( 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of a wall of the second pair of side walls ( 5 , 6 ), in the vicinity of a remaining side ( 513 , 514 , 523 , 524 , 613 , 614 , 623 , 624 ) of said panel ( 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) on which bears said panel of the wall of the first pair of side walls ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 ) comprising the first member, which first member and second member ( 100 ), when they are at a predetermined distance from each other, are subject to a force which holds them at said predetermined distance or at a shorter distance.
2. A case according to claim 1 , characterized in that the panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 ) of the first pair of side walls ( 3 , 4 ) have a rectangular perimeter with their two remaining sides ( 313 , 314 , 323 , 324 , 413 , 414 , 423 , 424 ) straight.
3. A case according to claim 2 , comprising a cover ( 8 ) adapted to come to bear against the frame ( 7 ), which cover ( 8 ) has a perimeter formed by four sides ( 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ), respectively a first side ( 81 ) and a second side ( 82 ) which are opposite sides as well as a third side ( 83 ) and a fourth side ( 84 ) which are opposite sides, with one of the four sides ( 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ) of said cover ( 8 ) being hinged to the second side ( 322 , 422 , 522 , 622 ) of a second panel ( 32 , 42 , 52 , 62 ) of one of said side walls ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) or to a side ( 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ) of said frame ( 7 ).
4. A case according to claim 2 , characterized in that each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) is formed as a single piece, and in that the first and second panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) are hinged by a fold formed at the first side ( 311 , 321 , 411 , 421 , 511 , 521 , 611 , 621 ) of said first and second panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ).
5. A case according to claim 2 , characterized in that the first and second panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) are hinged by a first linking device ( 34 , 44 , 54 , 64 ) formed from a flexible material.
6. A case according to claim 1 , comprising a cover ( 8 ) adapted to come to bear against the frame ( 7 ), which cover ( 8 ) has a perimeter formed by four sides ( 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ), respectively a first side ( 81 ) and a second side ( 82 ) which are opposite sides as well as a third side ( 83 ) and a fourth side ( 84 ) which are opposite sides, with one of the four sides ( 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ) of said cover ( 8 ) being hinged to the second side ( 322 , 422 , 522 , 622 ) of a second panel ( 32 , 42 , 52 , 62 ) of one of said side walls ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) or to a side ( 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ) of said frame ( 7 ).
7. A case according to claim 6 , characterized in that each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) is formed as a single piece, and in that the first and second panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) are hinged by a fold formed at the first side ( 311 , 321 , 411 , 421 , 511 , 521 , 611 , 621 ) of said first and second panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ).
8. A case according to claim 6 , characterized in that the first and second panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) are hinged by a first linking device ( 34 , 44 , 54 , 64 ) formed from a flexible material.
9. A case according to claim 1 , characterized in that each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) is formed as a single piece, and in that the first and second panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) are hinged by a fold formed at the first side ( 311 , 321 , 411 , 421 , 511 , 521 , 611 , 621 ) of said first and second panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ).
10. A case according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first and second panels ( 31 , 32 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 61 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) are hinged by a first linking device ( 34 , 44 , 54 , 64 ) formed from a flexible material.
11. A case according to claim 10 , characterized in that each first panel ( 31 , 41 , 51 , 61 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) is hinged to the bottom panel ( 2 ) by a second linking device ( 38 , 48 , 58 , 68 ), and in that each second panel ( 32 , 42 , 52 , 62 ) of each side wall ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) is hinged to the frame ( 7 ) by a third linking device ( 39 , 49 , 59 , 69 ), said second ( 38 , 48 , 58 , 68 ) and third linking devices ( 39 , 49 , 59 , 69 ) being formed from a flexible material.
12. A case according to claim 11 , comprising a cover ( 8 ) adapted to come to bear against the frame ( 7 ), which cover ( 8 ) has a perimeter formed by four sides ( 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ), respectively a first side ( 81 ) and a second side ( 82 ) which are opposite sides as well as a third side ( 83 ) and a fourth side ( 84 ) which are opposite sides, with one of the four sides ( 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ) of said cover ( 8 ) being hinged to the second side ( 322 , 422 , 522 , 622 ) of a second panel ( 32 , 42 , 52 , 62 ) of one of said side walls ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) or to a side ( 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ) of said frame ( 7 ) by a fourth linking device ( 88 ) formed from a flexible material.
13. A case according to claim 1 , comprising at least a second retaining system ( 102 ) comprising at least a first member disposed on the bottom panel ( 2 ) and at least a second member ( 102 ) disposed on the frame ( 7 ), facing the first member.
14. A case according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first member is formed by the panel on which it is disposed, formed from metal material, and in that the second member is formed by a magnetic metal plate ( 100 , 102 ).
15. A case according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first and second members are formed by self-fastening retaining tabs.