Eyeglass Frame Coupling Structure with Elastic Snap-Fit Hinge

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing coupling structures of glasses frames and legs, which use screws, complicate the process of fitting lenses and applying elasticity, leading to reduced manufacturing efficiency due to complex structures and difficult assembly/disassembly.

Innovation Solution

A coupling structure featuring hinge pieces with stopper grooves, elastic members with angled protrusions, and rotation pins allows for easy assembly and disassembly of glasses frames and legs, providing elasticity when folded or unfolded, and enhancing manufacturing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screws are used to couple frames and legs, then the coupling is secure, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling securityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling structure is divided into separate functional components: hinge pieces with stopper grooves, elastic members, and legs with rotation pins. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall assembly process, eliminating the need for screws and complex fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic members automatically provide coupling force when the legs are inserted into the hinge pieces. The elasticity of the members creates a self-locking mechanism that secures the coupling without requiring additional fastening operations, enabling quick assembly and disassembly while maintaining secure connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If elastic means are installed in a complex structure to the legs, then elasticity is provided, but the structure becomes difficult to manufacture and assemble

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding elasticityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic members are integrated directly into the hinge pieces, merging the elasticity function with the coupling structure. This combination eliminates the need for separate elastic components attached to the legs, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining the folding elasticity function. The hinge pieces with integrated elastic members provide both coupling and elastic resistance in a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If screws are used to couple frames and legs, then the coupling is secure, but the process of fitting lenses becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling securityVSAvoidlens fitting process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The screw fastening mechanism is completely removed from the coupling system. By extracting the screw component and replacing it with a snap-fit elastic coupling mechanism, the lens fitting process is simplified as there are no screws to remove or adjust when installing or replacing lenses, while the elastic members maintain secure coupling through their elastic retention force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution simplifies the assembly and disassembly of glasses frames and legs, improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining the elasticity needed for folding and unfolding, making the process more efficient and easier to manufacture.

Implementation Method 1

two elastic members (4) having a slot (3) for the insertion of the hinge piece (2)... providing elasticity when the legs are folded or unfolded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2645153B1Structure for coupling together a frame and a sidepiece of eyeglasses
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 KIM YOUNG HO
  • EP2645153B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2645153B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2645153B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a coupling structure of glasses frames and glasses legs, and more particularly, to a coupling structure of glasses frames and glasses legs, in which the frames and the legs can be easily coupled or uncoupled to/from each other, which enables lenses to be easily coupled to the frames, and which provides elasticity when the legs are folded or unfolded. The coupling structure of the present invention includes: a hinge piece (2) tightly inserted between end pieces (E) split at a distal end of the frames such that the hinge piece (2) protrudes, wherein the hinge piece (2) has a stopper groove (1) ; an elastic member (4) having a slot (3) for the insertion of the hinge piece (2) ; and legs (T) having a rotation pin (8) and an operating slot (5) such that a front end of the legs (T) can be fitted into the stopper groove (1) while elastically pressing the elastic member (4) . Also, the coupling structure of the present invention comprises: a hinge piece (2) protruding from the inside of an end piece (E) integrally formed with an end of the frames by synthetic-resin injection-molding, wherein the hinge piece (2) has a stopper groove (1) ; an elastic member (4) having an upper plate and a lower plate, wherein an intermediate portion of the upper plate is elastically bent, the upper plate and the lower plate have respective slots (3) to be doubly fitted onto the hinge piece (2), and the intermediate portion of the upper plate is bent at a predetermined angle to form a protrusion (6) in the horizontal direction; and legs (T), the front end of which has a rotation pin (8) such that the front end of the legs (T) can be fitted into the stopper groove (1) of the hinge piece (2) while elastically pressing the upper plate of the elastic member (4), wherein the leg (T) has a relatively vertically elongate operating slot (5) at the front end thereof such that the legs (T) is rotatable about the rotation pin (8).