Air Cooled Goggle Frame With Permeable Liner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports goggles fail to provide effective air cooling to the skin areas covered by the frame, leading to discomfort and potential fogging issues, while also risking the introduction of dust or irritants into the eyes through inadequate airflow management.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates one or more apertures in the outer surface of the frame connected by channels to the inner surface, allowing airflow to be disbursed through a flexible liner, which can be made of foam or porous materials, to cool the user's skin without introducing dust or irritants into the eyes, using a screen or filter as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If prior art goggles provide smooth laminar airflow across the back surface of the goggle lens to prevent fogging, then fogging is prevented, but natural air cooling of the skin area covered by the goggles is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The goggle frame is segmented into multiple functional zones with separate airflow pathways: one pathway directs laminar airflow across the lens back surface to prevent fogging, while another pathway directs airflow through channels in the frame to cool the skin. This segmentation allows independent optimization of fogging prevention and skin cooling without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the goggle frame are assigned different airflow characteristics: the upper frame portion provides smooth laminar flow for lens protection, while the lower frame portion incorporates channels and apertures for direct skin cooling. The flexible liner also has differentiated properties with denser material in some areas and more open structure in others to optimize local airflow and cooling needs.
2Temperature
If the frame allows airflow through to cool the skin, then skin cooling is improved, but dust or irritants may be introduced into the eyes
Solution Approach 1:
Screens or filters are positioned as intermediary elements within the airflow channels and at aperture locations. These intermediaries allow air molecules to pass through for cooling purposes while blocking larger particulate matter such as dust and irritants. The screen acts as a selective mediator that permits beneficial airflow while excluding harmful particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible liner is constructed from porous materials with controlled pore sizes that allow air permeation for cooling while filtering out larger particles. The porous structure provides a natural filtration mechanism where the pore geometry permits gas molecules to pass but retains solid particulates, achieving both cooling and protection functions simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively cools the user's skin by directing airflow through the frame to the liner, preventing fogging and discomfort while maintaining clear vision by isolating airflow from the lens and eye area.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible liner is made of foam, open-cell foam, another porous material, or other material that allows air to pass through it
Implementation Method 2
managing the flow of air through the frame of a modern sports goggle to disburse fresh air across areas where the goggle frame is in direct contact with the user's skin, cooling the user
Data Source
AI summary
A sports goggle comprising a lens attached to a flexible frame and configured to be positioned over the user's eyes, the flexible frame comprising an outer surface that is oriented away from the user's face and an inner surface that generally conforms to the shape of the user's face, the inner surface completely or partially covered with a flexible liner, and one or more first apertures in the outer surface connected to one or more apertures in the inner surface by one or more channels to allow airflow through the frame to the flexible liner. The flexible liner may be made of foam, open-cell foam, another porous material, or other material that allows air to pass through it. The goggle may include a screen and/or a filter positioned near the first aperture, between the first aperture and the second aperture, or near the second aperture.