Automatic eyewear cleaner

Abstract

An automatic eyeglass cleaner is provided in accordance with the invention. A specially formulated cleaning and conditioning solution is also provided for use with the automatic cleaner. A tank in the automatic cleaner is filled with the cleaning and conditioning solution; the eyeglass is folded up and clipped to the bottom of the open lid of the cleaner, then the lid is closed to lower the eyeglass into the solution. The cleaning cycle starts with the push of a button and the eyeglass is agitated in the solution. The cleaning cycle stops automatically after a pre-set time, the lid pops up and any excess solution is shaken off the eyeglass by the cleaner leaving a thin film on the lenses. A microfiber cloth is used to give the lenses a final touch-up that helps fill in microscopic scratches.

1 . An eyeglass cleaner comprising: 
 a. a solution tank adapted to hold a cleaning solution;    b. an arm capable of holding the eyeglass and being selectively movable between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein the arm holds the eyeglass in the solution tank when in the lowered position; and    c. a motor coupled to the arm, wherein the motor is capable of directly vibrating the arm in the lowered position in a cleaning mode and directly vibrating the arm in the raised position in a drying mode.    
   
   
       2 . The cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a timer coupled to the motor, wherein the timer operates the motor for a set amount of cleaning time in the cleaning mode.  
   
   
       3 . The cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the timer operates the motor for a set amount of drying time in the drying mode.  
   
   
       4 . The cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the arm further comprises a clip adapted to selectively hold the eyeglass, the clip being detachably coupled to the arm.  
   
   
       5 . The cleaner of  claim 4  wherein the clip is detachably coupled to the arm by a magnet mechanism.  
   
   
       6 . The cleaner of  claim 4  wherein the clip further comprises: 
 a. an upper handle having a first retention feature; and    b. a lower handle coupled to the upper handle and having a second retention feature, wherein the first and second retention features are urged to grasp the eyeglass therebetween, the clip being actuatable to selectively release the eyeglass by applying pressure to the lower handle.    
   
   
       7 . The cleaner of  claim 6  wherein the clip further comprises a set of gripping teeth on the first and second retention features.  
   
   
       8 . The cleaner of  claim 7  wherein the gripping teeth are made of rubber.  
   
   
       9 . The cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the solution tank is removable.  
   
   
       10 . The cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a storage receptacle.  
   
   
       11 . The cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a lid that pivotably moves between an open and a closed position.  
   
   
       12 . The cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the lid automatically moves from the closed position to the open position after a set amount of cleaning time.  
   
   
       13 . The cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the lid is biased to be in the open position.  
   
   
       14 . The cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the lid and the arm are configured to pivot about an axis.  
   
   
       15 . The cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a lighting element positioned within the cleaner.  
   
   
       16 . The cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the motor continually vibrates the arm while the arm moves between the lowered and raised positions.  
   
   
       17 . An eyeglass cleaner comprising: 
 a. a housing;    b. a solution tank coupled to the housing;    c. an arm adapted to hold the eyeglass, the arm moveable between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the arm is positioned within the solution tank in the lowered position and above the solution tank in the raised position; and    d. a motor within the housing, wherein the motor directly moves the arm in a repeated back and forth motion in the lowered position in a cleaning mode and the raised position in a drying mode.    
   
   
       18 . The cleaner of  claim 17  further comprising a timer coupled to the motor, wherein the timer operates the motor for a set amount of cleaning time in the cleaning mode.  
   
   
       19 . The cleaner of  claim 18  wherein the timer operates the motor for a set amount of drying time in the drying mode.  
   
   
       20 . The cleaner of  claim 17  wherein the arm further comprises a clip adapted to selectively hold the eyeglass, the clip being detachably coupled to the arm.  
   
   
       21 . The cleaner of  claim 20  wherein the clip is detachably coupled to the arm by a magnet mechanism.  
   
   
       22 . The cleaner of  claim 21  wherein the clip further comprises: 
 a. an upper handle having a first retention feature; and    b. a lower handle coupled to the upper handle and having a second retention feature, wherein the first and second retention features are urged to grasp the eyeglass therebetween, the clip being actuatable to selectively release the eyeglass by applying pressure to the lower handle.    
   
   
       23 . The cleaner of  claim 22  wherein the clip further comprises a set of gripping teeth on the first and second retention features.  
   
   
       24 . The cleaner of  claim 23  wherein the gripping teeth are made of rubber.  
   
   
       25 . The cleaner of  claim 17  wherein the solution tank is removably coupled to the housing.  
   
   
       26 . The cleaner of  claim 17  further comprising a lid that pivotably moves between an open and a closed position.  
   
   
       27 . The cleaner of  claim 26  wherein the lid automatically moves from the closed position to the open position after a set amount of cleaning time.  
   
   
       28 . The cleaner of  claim 26  wherein the lid is biased to be in the open position.  
   
   
       29 . The cleaner of  claim 17  further comprising a lighting element positioned within the housing.  
   
   
       30 . The cleaner of  claim 17  wherein the motor continually moves the arm in the back and forth motion while the arm moves between the lowered and raised positions.  
   
   
       31 . A cleaner to clean and dry an eyeglass comprising: 
 a. a solution tank;    b. a clip adapted to hold the eyeglass within the solution tank in a lowered position and above the solution tank in a raised position, the clip having a first and second handle operatively connected to a first and second grasping mechanism to hold the eyeglass, the first and second grasping mechanism adapted to selectively release the eyeglass by actuating the first handle toward the second handle; and    c. a motor to directly move the clip in a repeated back and forth motion in the lowered position and the raised position.    
   
   
       32 . The cleaner of  claim 31  wherein the clip further comprises a set of gripping teeth on the first and second retention features.  
   
   
       33 . The cleaner of  claim 32  wherein the gripping teeth are made of rubber.  
   
   
       34 . The cleaner of  claim 31  further comprising a timer coupled to the motor, wherein the timer operates the motor for a set amount of cleaning time in a cleaning mode, wherein at least a portion of the clip is in the liquid in the cleaning mode.  
   
   
       35 . The cleaner of  claim 34  wherein the timer operates the motor for a set amount of drying time in a drying mode, wherein the clip is above the liquid in the drying mode.  
   
   
       36 . The cleaner of  claim 31  comprising a lid that pivotably moves between an open and a closed position.  
   
   
       37 . The cleaner of  claim 36  wherein the lid automatically moves from the closed position to the open position after a set amount of cleaning time.  
   
   
       38 . The cleaner of  claim 36  wherein the clip correspondingly moves with the lid from the closed position to the open position after the set amount of cleaning time.  
   
   
       39 . The cleaner of  claim 31  further comprising a lighting element positioned within the housing.  
   
   
       40 . The cleaner of  claim 31  wherein the motor continually moves the clip in the back and forth motion while the clip is moved between the lowered and raised positions.  
   
   
       41 . An eyeglass cleaner comprising: 
 a. a cleaning solution tank;    b. an arm movable between a first position in the cleaning solution tank and a second position out of the cleaning solution tank; and    c. a clip magnetically coupled to the arm and having a plurality of teeth capable of grasping the eyeglass, the clip being actuatable to selectively grasp and release the eyeglass.    
   
   
       42 . The cleaner of  claim 41  wherein the teeth are made of rubber.  
   
   
       43 . An eyeglass cleaner comprising: 
 a. a cleaning solution tank;    b. an arm movable between a first position in the cleaning solution tank and a second position out of the cleaning solution tank; and    c. a clip removably magnetically coupled to the arm, the clip further comprising: 
 i. an upper handle having a first retention feature; and  
 ii. a lower handle coupled to the upper handle and having a second retention feature, wherein the first and second retention features are urged to grasp the eyeglass therebetween, the clip being actuatable to selectively release the eyeglass by applying pressure to the lower handle.  
   
   
   
       44 . The cleaner of  claim 43  wherein the clip further comprises a set of gripping teeth on the first and second retention features.  
   
   
       45 . The cleaner of  claim 44  wherein the gripping teeth are made of rubber.