Eye Shield Clamping Ring for Night Vision Goggles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current eye protection methods, such as standard safety goggles and rubber eyecups, do not provide adequate visibility and protection when used with night vision goggles, particularly in military or high-impact environments.
Innovation Solution
An eye shield with an attachment device featuring a clamping ring, a pivotally coupled shield, and a locking element, designed to securely attach to optical devices like night vision goggles, providing protection from debris, lasers, and light while maintaining visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If standard safety goggles are worn behind night vision goggles, then eye protection is provided, but visibility and perception are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The eye protection system is segmented into separate functional zones: the night vision goggles provide optical enhancement while the eye shield provides protective coverage. The shield is divided into a clamping ring portion for attachment and a shield portion for protection, allowing each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The eye shield provides localized protection only in areas where it is needed (peripheral and side protection), while leaving the central viewing area clear for night vision goggles. The shield portion is configured to extend laterally from the optical device, providing protection without blocking the user's forward vision through the NVG eyepieces.
2Length of moving object
If standard rubber eyecups are used around the eyepiece, then the night vision goggles can be closer to the eye, but peripheral vision is blocked and protection against lasers/ballistics/debris is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending protection only in the forward direction (along the optical axis), the eye shield extends laterally in a perpendicular dimension from the optical device. The shield portion projects outward from the clamping ring in a direction generally perpendicular to the optical device, providing protection from side and peripheral hazards while maintaining proper NVG-to-eye distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The eye shield serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains proper spacing between the NVG and user's eye, provides protection against lasers and light, blocks debris and ballistics, and preserves peripheral vision. The single device structure integrates these functions that were previously addressed by multiple separate components.
3Ease of operation
If eye protection couples to the night vision goggles at the eye piece or back end, then attachment is achieved, but compatibility is lost with certain NVG models that have adjustment rings
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping ring is designed with a universal attachment mechanism that can accommodate various NVG models regardless of whether they have adjustment rings or not. The ring can be positioned at different locations on the optical device and secured using the latch mechanism, providing compatibility across different NVG configurations and models.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping ring incorporates a dynamic latch mechanism that allows the ring to be easily opened and closed around the optical device. The latch can be engaged or disengaged to secure the shield at different positions, allowing adaptation to various NVG sizes and configurations while maintaining secure attachment.
Data Source
AI summary
An eye shield has an attachment device configured to be coupled to an optical device. The attachment device includes a clamping ring that has an open position and a closed position. The eye shield further has a shield coupled to the clamping ring to pivot away and towards the clamping ring, the shield extends laterally from the attachment device and a locking element that is disposed on the clamping ring and configured to lock the clamping ring in the closed position. The locking element has a locked and an unlocked position, and when the locking element is in the locked position the clamping ring is in the closed position.