Floating Protective Cage Eyewear for Impact and Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Protective eyewear for sports like lacrosse often compromises comfort and dexterity due to increased stiffness and bulk, leading to improper wear or non-use, despite advancements in impact resistance, which is a concern for providing adequate protection against high-speed impacts.
Innovation Solution
A protective eyewear apparatus featuring a resilient flex frame with a floating protective cage that allows for independent flexing, combined with compressible layers and ventilation, to enhance comfort and stability while meeting impact protection standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the protective eyewear is made with increased strength and impact resistance, then the protection level is improved, but the comfort and dexterity deteriorate due to increased stiffness and bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cage is segmented from the frame, allowing independent movement of each component. The cage is attached at multiple discrete points rather than being rigidly integrated, enabling it to flex and move independently during impact while maintaining overall structural integrity. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the protective elements to be strong while the overall structure remains flexible and comfortable.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cage is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing it to move and flex in response to impact forces. The cage can deflect backward and sideways independently of the frame, absorbing impact energy through controlled movement. This dynamic design maintains protection while reducing the stiffness and bulk that would otherwise compromise comfort and dexterity.
2Strength
If the protective eyewear is made with increased strength, then the impact protection is improved, but the equipment becomes more bulky and obtrusive to movement
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the protective cage into a wireframe structure with multiple open spaces, the design maintains protective function while significantly reducing the overall volume and bulk of the equipment. The segmented structure provides impact protection through its geometric configuration rather than through solid material volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cage functions as a flexible wireframe shell rather than a solid bulk structure. This thin-film approach provides adequate protection against high-speed impacts while minimizing the volume and obtrusiveness of the equipment, allowing for better comfort and range of motion.
3Strength
If the protective eyewear is made with increased strength, then the impact resistance is improved, but the equipment becomes more stiff and uncomfortable to wear continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cage is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to flex and move in response to impact forces rather than remaining rigid. The cage can deflect backward and sideways independently, absorbing impact energy through controlled deformation. This dynamic behavior maintains impact resistance while eliminating the excessive stiffness that would cause discomfort during continuous wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented wireframe construction allows each section of the cage to move independently, providing impact resistance through geometric configuration rather than material stiffness. This segmentation enables the structure to be strong where needed while remaining flexible and comfortable for continuous wear.
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 solution provides comfortable, long-term wear with improved impact protection, accommodating various head shapes and sizes, and effectively dissipating impact forces, thus preventing injuries from high-speed impacts like those from a lacrosse ball.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently constructed frame for engaging the head of the wearer... permitting the resilient frame to freely flex independently
Implementation Method 2
combined with compressible layers and ventilation, to enhance comfort and stability while meeting impact protection standards
Data Source
AI summary
Protective eyewear including a base, a floating protective wireframe (or lenses), an ear piece and a nose piece. The base can be substantially oval in shape, such that the base can surround the eyes of a user wearing the protective eyewear apparatus. The protective cage connects to the frame by snap fit or other means, and is otherwise spaced from and free-floating relative to the frame. This results in eyewear that is more comfortable to wear on a continuous basis and more reliable protection, at least meeting ASTM F 803-03 impact requirements.