Firefighter Helmet Eye Shield Hinge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eye protectors for firefighters and emergency rescue workers do not provide optimal protection and ease of use, as they lack a secure and efficient mechanism for transitioning between storage and usage positions.
Innovation Solution
A bracket-mounted eye protector system with hinges that include aligned openings and sockets, allowing for manual movement of eye shields between storage and usage positions, featuring a hinge pin with an interference fit and exposed end for easy removal, and optionally a leaf spring for maintaining position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual flipping mechanism is used for eye shields, then the shields can be moved between storage and usage positions, but the mechanism lacks reliability and secure positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: hinge openings on the eye shield and bracket, a socket for positioning, and a removable pin for securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably while keeping the overall mechanism simple and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge openings are pre-aligned in a straight line during manufacturing, ensuring that when the pin is inserted, it automatically engages both the eye shield and bracket at the correct positions. This preliminary alignment eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms and ensures reliable positioning from the first use.
2Ease of operation
If the hinge pin is fully enclosed, then the hinge appears more finished, but removal and attachment become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is designed to extend beyond the confines of the hinge openings, with a portion protruding from the bracket. This extraction of the pin from the enclosed hinge structure allows users to easily grasp and remove the pin with fingers or tools, while the remaining enclosed portion maintains a clean appearance when installed.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hinge openings are separate parts, then manufacturing is easier, but assembly precision and alignment become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge openings on both the eye shield and bracket are designed to be colinear, forming a single aligned sequence when assembled. This merging of alignment requirements into a simple colinear relationship greatly simplifies manufacturing and assembly, as it only requires that all openings lie on the same straight line rather than requiring complex angular or positional tolerances.
Data Source
AI summary
An eye protector (16) is provided for mounting on a helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker, the helmet having a brim (14) that projects forwardly and laterally from a lower part of a crown (12). The eye protector (16) includes a bracket (20) mounted to the brim (14), a pair of eye shields (18) movable between a storage position extending along the brim (14) and a usage position extending downward from the brim (14) to shield the eyes of the wearer, and a pair of hinges (22) to connect the eye shields (18) to the bracket (20) for movement between the storage and usage positions. Each of the hinges (22) connects a corresponding one of the eye shields (18) and includes a plurality of aligned hinge openings (24,26) on the eye shield (18) and the bracket (20), a socket (28) on the eye shield (18), and a hinge pin (30) extending through the hinge openings (24,26) and have a first end (32) releasably fixed in the socket (28) and a second end (34) that is exposed outside of the openings (24,26).