Elastic Hinge Pin With Thinned Portion For Eyeglass Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of elastic hinges for eyeglass frames is complex due to the need for centering articulations before inserting the hinge pin, which is difficult both manually and in industrial processes, and existing solutions either lose material or fail to conceal aesthetic components.
Innovation Solution
The elastic hinge features a hinge pin with a smooth intermediate portion and a thinned final portion with a smaller diameter, along with a tilted slide surface to facilitate alignment and insertion, allowing for easy assembly and concealment of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional hinge pin is used to assemble elastic hinges, then the articulations can be connected, but the assembly process becomes very complex requiring difficult centering operations
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pin is pre-configured with a thinned intermediate portion at the correct position and orientation before assembly. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for difficult centering operations during assembly, as the thinned portion automatically aligns with the opening between articulation holes, allowing the pin to be inserted directly without complex positioning steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The thinned intermediate portion of the pin acts as an intermediary element that facilitates the assembly process. This reduced-diameter section serves as a guide that fits through the opening between the two articulation holes, enabling the pin to bridge the gap between misaligned holes and achieve proper alignment during insertion, thereby simplifying the overall assembly operation.
2Ease of operation
If self-centering screws with extension portions are used, then centering is facilitated, but material is lost when the extension portion is broken
Solution Approach 1:
The thinned intermediate portion is pre-formed at the correct location and dimensions during pin manufacturing, eliminating the need for post-assembly breaking operations. The pin is designed with this reduced-diameter section already in place, which automatically performs the centering function during insertion without requiring subsequent material removal or breaking, thereby preventing material loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The thinned intermediate portion enables the pin to self-center during the insertion process itself. As the pin is inserted, the thinned portion naturally aligns with the opening between the articulation holes through its reduced diameter, allowing the assembly to center itself without requiring separate centering operations or sacrificial extension portions that need to be broken off.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional assembly processes are used, then articulations can be connected, but aesthetic components cannot be concealed
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pin is pre-configured with the thinned intermediate portion that enables aesthetic concealment. By having this reduced-diameter section pre-formed at the correct position, the pin can be inserted through the articulation holes in a single operation that simultaneously achieves both mechanical connection and aesthetic concealment, eliminating the need for separate operations that would compromise appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The thinned intermediate portion serves as an intermediary that allows the pin to pass through the opening between articulation holes without requiring visible alignment adjustments or additional components. This reduced-diameter section enables the pin to be inserted in a way that conceals the hinge mechanism from view while still achieving proper mechanical connection, simplifying the assembly process compared to conventional methods that require separate aesthetic finishing steps.
Data Source
AI summary
Process for assembling an elastic hinge for eyeglass frames comprising a first articulation provided with a head with a first hole, a second articulation having two shoulders provided with second holes, and a pin having a stem provided with a thinned final portion. The process provides for inserting the head of the first articulation between the two shoulders of the second articulation with the first hole of the first articulation non-aligned with respect to the second holes of the second articulation, an opening thus remaining between such holes. A step for inserting the pin is provided, during which the thinned portion of the pin is wedged in the aforesaid opening between the holes and is screwed into one of the second holes of the shoulders of the second articulation.