Eyewear With Tool-Free Replaceable Lens Inserts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional eyewear lenses are permanently fixed, making it inconvenient for users to replace them without professional assistance, and existing solutions do not allow for easy selection or replacement of lenses with different diopters, leading to wastefulness and high costs.
Innovation Solution
An eyewear system with a base that uses various retention mechanisms, such as magnets, friction fit, and mechanical features, allowing users to easily install and replace lens inserts without tools, enabling customization of diopters and cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If lenses are permanently fixed in the frame, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates (users cannot replace lenses without professional assistance)
Solution Approach 1:
The eyewear system is divided into two main segments: a base frame and removable lens inserts. The lens inserts are separate components that can be independently removed and replaced, allowing users to change lenses without affecting the structural integrity of the base frame. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling easy replacement while maintaining overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism incorporates dynamic elements such as elastic arms with friction surfaces that can be temporarily deformed to release or secure lens inserts. When pressure is applied, the elastic arms deform to release the friction hold, allowing easy removal. When pressure is released, the arms return to their original shape and securely hold the lens insert, providing both ease of operation and structural stability.
2Reliability
If lenses are permanently fixed, then reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates (users cannot select different diopters)
Solution Approach 1:
The base frame is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple different lens inserts with varying diopters, materials, and optical properties. The standardized retention mechanism works with all lens inserts, allowing users to switch between different lens types (e.g., reading glasses, sunglasses, prescription lenses) while maintaining reliable retention for each type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to change optical parameters by replacing lens inserts with different diopter values, materials, and optical characteristics. The base frame and retention mechanism remain constant while the lens parameters are variable, enabling adaptability without compromising the reliability of the overall system.
3Manufacturing precision
If professional lens replacement is required, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but loss of time increases (users wait for repairs)
Solution Approach 1:
The eyewear system is designed to enable users to perform lens replacement themselves without requiring professional assistance. The simple retention mechanism allows users to easily remove and install lens inserts at home or on-the-go, eliminating the need to visit repair shops and wait for service. Users can independently maintain and customize their eyewear as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens inserts are pre-configured with alignment features such as positioning tabs and slots that ensure proper alignment during user installation. This preliminary preparation of alignment mechanisms allows users to achieve precise lens positioning without requiring specialized tools or expertise, maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling quick self-service replacement.
4Ease of manufacture
If standard diopters are offered, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates (users cannot get custom diopters)
Solution Approach 1:
The separation of the base frame from the lens inserts allows manufacturers to produce standard base frames in large quantities and then offer a variety of lens inserts with different diopters and specifications. This segmentation enables economical mass production of the base while providing customization options for lenses, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
A single universal base frame design can accommodate multiple types of lens inserts with different diopters, materials, and optical properties. Manufacturers can produce one standardized base frame model and then offer a range of compatible lens inserts to meet different user needs, achieving both ease of manufacture and product versatility.
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
Enables users to conveniently replace lenses with different diopters, reducing waste and costs, while allowing manufacturers to offer a range of diopters, enhancing user convenience and visual appeal.
Implementation Method 1
magnets may be used to retain the lens inserts in the base
Implementation Method 2
friction fit
Data Source
AI summary
An eyewear system includes a base and a plurality of lens inserts which are dimensioned and configured to be releasably retained by the base, and removable from the base without tools. The base may be at least partially recessed on a rear face to accommodate a lens insert. The lens insert may include a lens and a subframe, the subframe being configured to nestle within the recess of the base.