Compartmented belt buckle for storing folded eyeglasses

Abstract

A new and unique style of belt buckle forms a compartment for storing folding eyeglasses. Individuals engaged in strenuous activities such as motorcycle or bicycle riding, horse back riding or construction work require means for safely and conveniently storing eyeglasses. The embodiments of the present invention provide a heavily constructed protective compartment within a belt buckle. Several variations of a closure means are provided by the versatile design embodiments. The belt buckle can also be used by individuals not engaged in strenuous activities for storing a second pair of eyeglasses or possibly keys, papers or other small articles. In all embodiments, the belt buckle may include the appearance of a highly decorative front face for concealing the storage function of the belt buckle.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A compartmented belt buckle for containing folding eyeglasses comprising: 
 a mounting unit having an attachment member connected to a rear surface thereof, said attachment member for attaching said mounting unit to a belt;    a retaining hook integrated to the rear surface of the mounting unit, said hook for restraining the belt in a proper position; and    a cover unit rotatably connected to said mounting unit such that inner recesses of the cover unit and mounting unit in combination define a compartment having a perimeter shape generally matching the shape of the eyeglasses in a folded position.    
     
     
         2 . The belt buckle of  claim 1  wherein a lower edge of the cover unit is connected by a hinge to a lower edge of the mounting unit such that the cover unit opens by rotating about the hinge in a generally forward direction to provide frontal access to the compartment.  
     
     
         3 . The belt buckle of  claim 2  wherein the hinge is spring loaded to maintain the cover in a closed position.  
     
     
         4 . The belt buckle of  claim 1  wherein the mounting unit and cover unit each incorporate corresponding magnetic clasps for maintaining the cover in a closed position.  
     
     
         5 . A compartmented belt buckle comprising: 
 a mounting unit defining a compartment, said mounting unit having an attachment member and retaining hook joined to a rear surface thereof, said attachment member for attaching said mounting unit to a belt and said hook for restraining the belt in a proper position; and    a cover unit rotatably connected to a side of the mounting unit such that the cover unit opens by rotating in a generally forward direction to provide side access to the compartment.    
     
     
         6 . A compartmented belt buckle comprising: 
 a mounting unit defining a compartment, said mounting unit having an attachment member and retaining hook joined to a rear surface thereof, said attachment member for attaching said mounting unit to a belt and said hook for restraining the belt in a proper position; and    a cover unit rotatably connected to a side of the mounting unit such that the cover unit opens by rotating in a generally side ways direction to provide side access to the compartment.    
     
     
         7 . The belt buckle of  claim 6  wherein the cover unit defines a partial compartment which combines with the mounting unit compartment to increase an overall compartment size when the cover unit is in a closed position.  
     
     
         8 . A compartmented belt buckle comprising: 
 a mounting unit defining a compartment, said mounting unit incorporating two frontal grooves, said mounting unit having an attachment member and retaining hook joined to a rear surface thereof, said attachment member for attaching said mounting unit to a belt and said hook for restraining the belt in a proper position; and    a cover unit having an integrated lip on each opposite edge thereof, said lips for receipt by said grooves such that the cover unit is translatably coupled to said mounting unit for providing frontal access to the compartment.    
     
     
         9 . The belt buckle of  claim 8  wherein the grooves and lips are vertically positioned such that the cover unit is translatable in a generally vertical direction.  
     
     
         10 . The belt buckle of  claim 8  wherein the grooves and lips are horizontally positioned such that the cover unit is translatable in a generally horizontal direction.  
     
     
         11 . The belt buckle of  claim 9  wherein the mounting unit further includes a spring biased ball detent and the cover unit further includes a concave cavity on an inner surface thereof for receipt of the ball detent to maintain the cover unit in a closed position.  
     
     
         12 . In combination a pair of folding eyeglasses and a belt buckle for containing said eyeglasses comprising: 
 a pair of folding eyeglasses;    a mounting unit defining a compartment for containing said eyeglasses in a folded position, said mounting unit having an attachment member connected to a rear surface thereof, said attachment member for attaching said mounting unit to a belt;    a retaining hook integrated to the rear surface of the mounting unit, said hook for restraining the belt in a proper position; and    a cover unit movably coupled to said mounting unit for providing access to said compartment.    
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the cover unit is movably coupled to said mounting unit such that inner recesses of the cover unit and mounting unit in combination define a compartment having a perimeter shape generally matching the shape of the eyeglasses in a folded position.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein a lower edge of the cover unit is connected by a hinge to a lower edge of the mounting unit such that the cover unit opens by rotating about the hinge in a generally forward direction to provide frontal access to the compartment.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the cover unit is movably coupled to a side of the mounting unit such that the cover unit opens by rotating in a generally forward direction to provide side access to the compartment.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the cover unit is movably coupled to a side of the mounting unit such that the cover unit opens by rotating in a generally side ways direction to provide side access to the compartment.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the cover unit includes an integrated lip on each opposite edge thereof, said lips for receipt by grooves in said mounting unit such that the cover unit is translatably coupled to said mounting unit for providing frontal access to the compartment.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17  wherein the grooves and lips are vertically positioned such that the cover unit is translatable in a generally vertical direction.  
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 17  wherein the grooves and lips are horizontally positioned such that the cover unit is translatable in a generally horizontal direction.