Eyeglass Retainer Tether Mechanical Bond

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern eyewear retainers fail to securely attach eyeglasses to the wearer, particularly in dynamic environments, leading to potential loss during activities like surfing, despite advancements in materials and designs.

Innovation Solution

An eyeglass retainer system that uses a tether threaded through holes in the eyeglass frame and reinforced fabric loops on clothing, providing a mechanical bond between the eyewear and the wearer, with adjustable and detachable features for secure attachment and easy access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing eyewear retainers use plastic, rubber, or nylon loops and straps, then the materials and basic design have improved, but they still fail to mechanically secure the eyeglass arms and attach to the wearer, leading to loss in dynamic environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeyewear retention securityVSAvoidattachment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer system is divided into separate functional components: temple piece attachments with holes for securing to eyeglass arms, and a separate shirt attachment with fabric loops for securing to clothing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to provide reliable retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a tether as an intermediary element that connects the temple piece attachments to the shirt attachment. This tether serves as the mechanical link that transfers force and secures the eyewear to the wearer through the clothing, resolving the gap between existing retainer designs and secure wearer attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If eyewear retainers are designed to be simple and comfortable, then ease of operation improves, but they fail to provide mechanical attachment to prevent loss during activities like surfing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretainer attachment easeVSAvoideyewear retention security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shirt attachment incorporates fabric loops that are integrated into the clothing itself, utilizing the existing garment structure to provide attachment points. This self-service approach allows the clothing to actively participate in securing the eyewear, eliminating the need for separate complex attachment mechanisms while maintaining both simplicity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If existing retainers use straps that run around the back of the head, then they provide basic eyewear holding, but they cannot mechanically attach to the wearer, making eyeglasses vulnerable to loss when hit by waves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical attachment securityVSAvoidenvironmental damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs fabric loops integrated into the shirt that serve as disposable or replaceable attachment points. These fabric loops provide reliable mechanical attachment without requiring permanent modifications to the clothing or eyewear, allowing for easy replacement if damaged while maintaining secure attachment during the service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20240419015A1Eyeglass/Sunglass Retainer Device

Publication Date: 2024.12.19 ANDERSON IV CARL GERHARD

AI summary

The eyeglass retainer device uses holes in the eyeglass frame to connect to a tether which threads through loops/grommets/holes in the shirt of the wearer and is secured to the other eyeglass arm or other piece of tether (or the article of clothing itself), thus accomplishing a mechanical bond between the shirt and the wearer.