Encapsulated Glass Viewing Window Module for Safer Water Masks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing masks for water activities face issues such as glass breakage causing injury, lack of anti-fog capability, and weight due to thick prescription lenses, necessitating additional structural support and frequent anti-fog agent application.
Innovation Solution
A transparent viewing window module is integrated with a glass viewing window, featuring a non-glass encapsulation layer that provides structural support, anti-fog properties, and UV resistance, while allowing for lightweight design and vision correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If glass viewing window is used for mask, then clear field of vision is achieved, but glass breakage causes injury to user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by placing a transparent encapsulation layer inside the glass viewing window, creating a nested structure where the encapsulation layer is embedded within the glass matrix. This internal encapsulation prevents glass fragmentation from reaching the user while maintaining the glass's optical clarity, thus resolving the contradiction between clear vision and injury prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining glass viewing window with a transparent encapsulation layer made of different material (such as polymer or resin). This composite structure leverages the optical properties of glass while the encapsulation layer provides safety by containing glass fragments, thereby achieving both clear vision and injury protection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If prescription glass viewing window is used for myopic users, then vision correction is achieved, but mask becomes thick and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by integrating the prescription lens directly into the encapsulation layer structure. The encapsulation layer itself can be formed with refractive properties to provide vision correction, eliminating the need for separate thick prescription glass lenses. This reduces overall mask weight while maintaining adaptability for myopic users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into the encapsulation layer: it serves as both the safety encapsulation structure and the vision correction element. By combining the protective function and the optical correction function into a single integrated component, the design eliminates redundant material and reduces weight while maintaining both safety and vision correction capabilities.
3Strength
If glass viewing window is used for mask, then structural rigidity is achieved, but anti-fog capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining glass (for rigidity) with a transparent encapsulation layer made of anti-fog material (such as hydrophilic polymer). The encapsulation layer is integrated with the glass surface, creating a composite structure that maintains the glass's structural rigidity while the outer encapsulation layer provides anti-fog functionality through its material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by maintaining the glass's rigid structural properties in the bulk material while modifying the surface properties through the encapsulation layer. The encapsulation layer is specifically designed with anti-fog characteristics on the user-facing surface, while the glass interior maintains its rigidity. This localized functional differentiation resolves the contradiction between rigidity and anti-fog capability.
4Device complexity
If waterproof skirt is directly injection-molded onto glass viewing window without frame, then device complexity is reduced, but structural stability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by integrating the encapsulation layer directly into the glass viewing window structure during injection molding. The encapsulation layer is nested within the glass matrix, creating a unified stable structure that eliminates the need for separate frames while maintaining structural integrity. This nested integration provides both simplicity and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials to create a stable structure without additional frames. The glass viewing window combined with the encapsulation layer forms a composite structure with enhanced mechanical properties. This composite construction provides sufficient structural stability while maintaining design simplicity, as the encapsulation layer itself serves as the structural interface between the glass and the waterproof skirt.
Data Source
AI summary
A mask and a transparent viewing window module thereof are provided. The transparent viewing window module includes a glass viewing window and an integrally-formed transparent encapsulation layer. The glass viewing window has an inner surface, an outer surface opposite to the inner surface and a peripheral portion defined along an outer contour of the glass viewing window. The integrally-formed transparent encapsulation layer fully and tightly encompasses the peripheral portion and the inner surface of the glass viewing window.