Eyeglass Ear Stem Mounting for Modular Component Swapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The eyewear industry lacks a modular system that allows consumers to easily customize and modify their eyeglasses with various ornamental or functional components after purchase, limiting personalization and flexibility in design and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A customizable eyeglass mounting system featuring hingedly connected ear stems with moveable and stationary portions, allowing for the attachment and detachment of components such as decorative or electronic modules, enabling users to personalize their eyewear by swapping components without affecting the stability or optical quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a modular mounting system is implemented to enable easy attachment and release of components, then customization and flexibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ear stem is divided into a stationary portion (attached to the frame) and a moveable portion that can slide between locked and released positions. This segmentation allows the mounting system to provide both secure retention and easy release of components without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable portion of the ear stem is designed to be dynamically positioned - it can be held in a locked position during normal wear to secure components, and moved to a released position when component attachment or removal is needed. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt between two functional states without permanent modification.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a releasable component mounting system is added to enable component attachment and removal, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional manipulation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable portion of the ear stem provides dynamic control over component retention. By simply moving the ear stem between deployed and stowed positions, the user can automatically transition the mounting system between locked and released states, making component attachment and removal intuitive and easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the ear stem's own movement (deployed to stowed position transition) to automatically control the locking and releasing of components. The mounting mechanism serves itself by utilizing the natural motion of the ear stem during normal eyewear handling, eliminating the need for separate manual locking or unlocking actions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ear stem is made moveable between locked and released positions to enable component mounting, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential accidental disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable portion is designed with a locked position that is maintained during the deployed ear stem configuration (normal wear). The system dynamically transitions only when the ear stem is intentionally moved to the stowed position, ensuring components remain securely retained during normal use while allowing controlled access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically maintains the locked state during normal wear through the interaction between the moveable portion and the stationary portion when the ear stem is deployed. The component retention is self-maintained without requiring active control, and release only occurs when the ear stem is deliberately stowed, preventing accidental disengagement.
Data Source
AI summary
An eyeglass component mounting system is provided that can comprise a frame and at least a first ear stem. The first ear stem extends rearwardly from the frame and defines an anterior end and a posterior end. The anterior end of the first ear stem can be hingedly coupled to the frame such that the first ear stem can be pivotably movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first ear stem can comprise a mounting area configured to receive an eyewear component thereon such that the eyewear component can be removed or seated onto the mounting area when the first ear stem is in the stowed position and such that the eyewear component is retained on the mounting area when the first ear stem is in the deployed position.