Eyewear Hinge with Orthogonal Guide Slots and Springs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glasses frame hinges with multi-directional elastic recovery suffer from sluggish rotation and recovery issues due to inflexibility and instability, particularly in certain angles or situations, leading to jamming and poor performance in everyday use.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly featuring a guide body with orthogonal intersecting guide slots and connection elements with springs, allowing for smooth multi-directional rotation and return by compressing springs to maintain stability and prevent jamming, enabling horizontal and pitch movements without stagnation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a joint with two plates and pivot pins is used at the hinge part, then multi-directional elastic recovery is achieved, but the rotation process becomes inflexible and jamming occurs in certain angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ball as an intermediary element between the first and second connection elements. This ball rotates within a rotating shaft, serving as a mediator that enables smooth multi-directional rotation while maintaining elastic recovery functionality. The ball's spherical geometry allows it to navigate various angles without jamming, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and operational smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the connection mechanism by using a spherical ball instead of rigid pivot pins. This parameter change from linear pins to a spherical geometry enables continuous rotation in multiple directions while maintaining the elastic recovery property through the spring-loaded connection elements.
2Ease of operation
If a ball matches with a socket for elastic connection, then flexible rotation is achieved, but stability in positioned state deteriorates and rotation recovery becomes unsmooth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic hinge mechanism where the ball rotates within the rotating shaft while the connection elements can compress and extend along guide slots. This dynamic design allows the hinge to adapt its stability characteristics: the ball-socket provides flexibility during rotation, while the spring-loaded connection elements with guide slots provide stability when positioned, resolving the contradiction between rotation flexibility and positioned stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is segmented into distinct functional components: the ball for flexible rotation, the rotating shaft for guiding motion, and the spring-loaded connection elements for providing restoring force. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while working together to achieve both flexibility and stability.
3Device complexity
If universal tube structure is used for hinge, then simple construction is achieved, but elastic recovery function cannot be realized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated hinge assembly: the rotating shaft with guide slots combines rotational guidance with linear constraint, the ball provides spherical rotation capability, and the spring-loaded connection elements provide elastic recovery. This merging of functions into one compact structure achieves elastic recovery without significantly increasing overall complexity, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and functionality.
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
The hinge assembly ensures smoother rotation and recovery in various directions, preventing jamming and maintaining the integrity of the glasses frame under abnormal loads, thereby enhancing the usability and longevity of the glasses.
Implementation Method 1
a first connection element, which is connected with a first spring provided in an accommodation chamber of the endpiece of a pair of glasses, and which is slidable telescopically in the axial direction of the accommodation chamber of the endpiece
Implementation Method 2
the spring force of the first spring acts on the endpiece such that the end surface of the endpiece abuts against the first end surface of the guide body
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A hinge assembly comprising a guide body (30), a first connection element (60), a second connection element (70), a first spring (40) and a second spring (50); the guide body (30) comprising a first end surface (31) and a second end surface (32) provided at opposite sides respectively, wherein the first end surface is provided with a first guide slot (33), the second end surface is provided with a second guide slot (34), and the first guide slot and the second guide slot intersect orthogonally, the first connection element (60) is provided with first connection end (61) extending beyond an end surface of the endpiece, the second connection element (70) is provided with a second connection end (71) extending beyond an end surface of the temple end, the first connection end (61) and the second connection end (71) are hingedly connected and pivoted with each other within the guide body (30); A glasses frame comprising an endpiece, a temple, and a hinge assembly. Since the connection ends of the two connection members are hingedly connected and pivoted with each other within the guide body (30), the hinge assembly and the glasses frame according to the present application can rotate and recover more smoothly, thereby avoiding the occurrence of jamming.