Flexible Eyewear Bridge Structure for Secure Lens Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional eyewear frames struggle to balance flexibility with secure lens attachment and accurate vision support, particularly for prescription lenses, failing to accommodate diverse user face profiles.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing eyewear frames with rigid sections connected by a flexible bridge portion, using a single molding process to integrate thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) overmolded extensions, allowing for automatic adjustment to fit various face shapes while securing lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible frame is used to allow curvature adjustment to fit different users, then adaptability is improved, but lens attachment security and vision support stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into distinct rigid sections (lens mounting portions) and flexible sections (bridge portion connecting the rigid sections). This segmentation allows different parts of the frame to have different mechanical properties - the rigid sections provide stable lens attachment while the flexible bridge adapts to different face profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the frame are assigned different material properties: the bridge portion is made of flexible material to accommodate various face shapes, while the lens mounting portions are made of rigid material to securely hold prescription lenses. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between flexibility and stability.
2Reliability
If a rigid frame is used to provide solid support for prescription lenses, then lens attachment security is improved, but adaptability to different face profiles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into rigid lens mounting portions that securely hold prescription lenses and a flexible bridge portion that adapts to different face profiles. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its function - rigid for lens support, flexible for adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure implements local quality by using rigid material specifically at the lens mounting portions where stability is critical, while using flexible material at the bridge portion where adaptability is needed. This localized material assignment resolves the contradiction.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single rigid material is used for the entire frame, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but functional versatility and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The frame uses composite construction with at least two different materials: a rigid material for lens mounting portions and a flexible material for the bridge portion. This composite approach enables the frame to provide both stable lens support and adaptive comfort, enhancing functional versatility while maintaining manufacturability through established multi-material molding techniques.
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 flexible bridge portion enables secure lens attachment and accurate vision support, accommodating diverse facial contours, enhancing comfort and fit.
Implementation Method 1
injecting a flexible material into the flexible bridge mold to form a flexible bridge portion and connect the first and second sections
Implementation Method 2
the flexible material is overmolded on the extensions
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a flexible eyewear frame comprises arranging a first section and a second section in or adjacent to a flexible bridge mold, and injecting a flexible material into the flexible bridge mold to form a flexible bridge portion and connect the first and second sections.