Goggle Frame Bend Control Component for Lens Geometry Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Customizable eyewear products often experience undesirable distortion when fitted to a wearer's unique profile, leading to discomfort and inferior optical performance due to preferential bending of the goggle frame, which causes deformation of the lens and reduces optical quality.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a reinforcement structure, such as a rigid support rib or a bend control component, within the goggle frame to prevent preferential bending, particularly at the central nosepiece section, by adjusting dimensions or materials to enhance flexural strength and maintain the lens's as-molded geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the goggle frame is made flexible to conform to the wearer's face, then comfort and fit are improved, but the lens geometry deforms causing optical distortion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort and fitVSAvoidlens geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The goggle frame is divided into multiple beam segments (first beam, second beam, third beam) with different flexural strength characteristics. The first and second beams have higher flexural strength to maintain lens geometry, while the third beam has lower flexural strength to provide comfort and fit, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and geometric stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the goggle frame are assigned different flexural strength properties. The bridge portion (first and second beams) is made with higher flexural strength to prevent lens deformation, while the temple portion (third beam) is made with lower flexural strength to allow conforming to the wearer's head shape, applying local quality differentiation to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the goggle frame is made rigid to maintain lens geometry, then optical quality is improved, but comfort and adaptability to different face shapes deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens geometryVSAvoidcomfort and fit
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is segmented into functional zones with different rigidity requirements. The lens-supporting beams are made rigid to maintain optical quality, while the temple beam is made more flexible to provide adaptability to different head shapes, resolving the contradiction through spatial segmentation of mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame structure implements local quality by varying flexural strength at different locations: high flexural strength at the bridge and lens mounting areas for geometric stability, and lower flexural strength at the temple area for adaptability, thus resolving the contradiction between rigidity and comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the bridge width is reduced to fit narrow heads, then adaptability is improved, but the lens bends preferentially causing optical distortion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefit for different head sizesVSAvoidlens geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge portion is designed with locally enhanced flexural strength through its specific structural configuration, allowing the overall bridge width to be reduced for adaptability while the critical lens-supporting areas maintain sufficient rigidity to prevent preferential bending and preserve optical quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge is divided into first and second beams that are structurally optimized to provide adequate flexural strength for lens support even when the overall bridge width is reduced, segmenting the load-bearing function from the overall dimension to maintain both adaptability and optical precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2389149B1Controlled deflection goggle
Publication Date: 2017.09.06 OAKLEY INC
  • EP2389149B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2389149B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2389149B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A goggle is provided that can comprise a goggle frame (102) and a bend control component (120). The goggle frame can define opposing lateral portions and a central portion. The goggle frame can comprise a bridge disposed at the central portion of the goggle frame. The goggle frame can be generally flexible upon exertion of a bending force on the goggle frame. The bend control component can extend along the bridge of the goggle frame. The bend control component can be configured to enhance flexural strength of the goggle at a bridge thereof for reducing preferential bending of the goggle frame at the bridge. In some embodiments, the bend control component is formed separately from the goggle frame. In other embodiments, the bend control component can be secured to the frame using fasteners and/or one or more protrusions and corresponding recesses.