Flexible Eyewear Frame with Rigid Lens Retainer

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional eyewear frames are either rigid, limiting flexibility and comfort, or lack secure lens attachment methods, failing to meet diverse functional and fashion requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method of creating eyewear with a substantially flexible frame that incorporates a rigid lens retainer apparatus, where the lens retainer is molded separately and permanently engaged with the flexible frame during the molding process, ensuring secure and permanent lens attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid frame is used for conventional eyewear, then lens attachment is secure, but flexibility and comfort are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens attachment securityVSAvoidframe flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The eyewear frame is divided into two distinct components: a flexible frame body and a separate rigid lens retainer. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function - the flexible frame provides comfort and adaptability, while the rigid lens retainer ensures secure lens attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines two materials with different properties - a flexible material for the frame and a rigid material for the lens retainer - into a composite structure. This composite approach enables the eyewear to simultaneously achieve flexibility and lens security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible frame is used for eyewear, then comfort and adaptability improve, but secure lens attachment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe flexibilityVSAvoidlens attachment security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The eyewear frame is divided into two distinct components: a flexible frame body and a separate rigid lens retainer. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function - the flexible frame provides comfort and adaptability, while the rigid lens retainer ensures secure lens attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines two materials with different properties - a flexible material for the frame and a rigid material for the lens retainer - into a composite structure. This composite approach enables the eyewear to simultaneously achieve flexibility and lens security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Manufacturing precision

If separate molding processes are used for lens retainer and frame, then manufacturing precision improves, but production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens retainer formation accuracyVSAvoidproduction speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The lens retainer is molded separately in advance using a dedicated molding device that ensures high precision. This preliminary action allows the lens retainer to be formed with accurate dimensions and proper lens engagement features before being integrated with the flexible frame.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The separately molded lens retainer and flexible frame are combined through integration during the frame molding process. The lens retainer is positioned and secured within the flexible frame structure, merging the two components into a complete eyewear assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8967800B2Method of making eyewear having flexible frame with rigid lens retainer

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 SHELDON BRENT

AI summary

A lens is permanently engaged with a substantially rigid lens retaining apparatus to form a lens unit during a formation molding process of the lens retaining apparatus. The rigid lens retaining apparatus is permanently engaged with a substantially flexible eyewear frame during a formation molding process of the frame. Therefore, a secure attachment of lenses to the substantially flexible eyewear frame through rigid lens retaining apparatus is provided.