Swimming Goggles Convex Outer Surface Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swimming goggles increase drag and water resistance due to their protruding design, which can also lead to dislodgement and water ingress, compromising the seal and impairing vision.
Innovation Solution
The goggles feature a smooth, convex outer surface where the peripheral walls seamlessly curve into the lens portions, reducing turbulence and providing a secure fit without a head strap, minimizing drag and preventing water ingress by forming a continuous, convex surface that follows the contours of the face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If peripheral walls extend back from lens portions to form seals, then eye protection and seal formation are improved, but drag and water resistance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral walls are designed with a curved outer surface that transitions smoothly from the lens portions, eliminating abrupt angular joins. This curvature allows water to flow smoothly over the goggles, reducing turbulence and drag while maintaining the seal function against the wearer's face.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameters of the peripheral walls by extending them further back from the lens portions with a specific curvature radius. This parameter optimization allows the walls to form effective seals while minimizing the protruding profile that causes drag, achieving both seal reliability and reduced water resistance.
2Reliability
If peripheral walls extend back from lens portions, then seal formation is improved, but goggle dislodgement risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved outer surface of the peripheral walls creates a streamlined profile that reduces water turbulence. This smooth curvature prevents water from creating lifting forces that could dislodge the goggles, while the extended back portion maintains the seal against the wearer's face, achieving both stability and seal formation.
3Ease of manufacture
If peripheral walls have abrupt angular joins with lens portions, then manufacturing is simplified, but water turbulence and drag increase
Solution Approach 1:
The design replaces abrupt angular joins with smooth curved transitions between the peripheral walls and lens portions. This curvature eliminates turbulent flow separation that would occur at sharp angles, allowing water to flow smoothly over the goggles. The curved design can be manufactured using injection molding or similar processes, maintaining ease of production while improving hydrodynamic performance.
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 design significantly reduces water resistance and the likelihood of goggle dislodgement, maintaining a secure seal and enhancing swimming performance by allowing smooth water flow over the goggles, even without a head strap.
Implementation Method 1
The smoothly curved outer surface provided by the present invention facilitates a smooth flow of water over the goggles
Implementation Method 2
streamlined the wearer's head in order to reduce drag/resistance as the wearer moves
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to goggles, preferably extra-orbital goggles, having an outer surface defined by a pair of lens portions each having an upper and a lower peripheral wall. The upper and lower peripheral walls extend to an upper and lower peripheral edge respectively which, in use, are in contact with the wearers face. The outer surface defined by the upper peripheral walls is convex. This contributes to a goggle outer surface which is a smooth curve.