Goggle Lens Cleaning via Dominant-Hand Control Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing goggles designed for high-speed outdoor sports often have foreign objects like snow or mud adhering to the lens, requiring manual removal, which is cumbersome and dangerous, especially since existing solutions are not adaptable to left-handed users.

Innovation Solution

A goggle with a control assembly that allows the soft sheet to be rolled up and cleaned by the wearer's dominant hand, featuring a ratchet wheel mechanism and interchangeable left/right positioning to maintain lens clarity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a scroll mechanism is provided in the goggle to remove foreign objects from the lens, then the lens can be kept clean without using hands, but the mechanism can only be operated by right-handed wearers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens cleaning operationVSAvoidadaptability to different dominant hands
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The goggle is divided into a goggle body and a detachable control assembly. The control assembly can be selectively installed on the left or right side of the goggle frame, allowing right-handed or left-handed wearers to operate the lens cleaning function with their dominant hand respectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control assembly is designed to be detachable and repositionable, enabling the operational side of the goggle to dynamically adapt to different users' dominant hands rather than being fixed in one position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the control assembly is fixed on one side of the goggle, then the structure is simple, but left-handed users cannot operate it smoothly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol assembly structureVSAvoidoperation for left-handed users
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control assembly is separated from the main goggle body as a detachable module, allowing it to be independently positioned on either the left or right side according to the user's needs without complicating the overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control assembly is designed with universal compatibility to function equally well when installed on either the left or right side of the goggle, serving both right-handed and left-handed users through the same mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If manual removal of foreign objects from the lens is required, then the goggle structure is simple, but it is cumbersome and dangerous during high-speed sports

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegoggle structureVSAvoidforeign object removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The soft sheet automatically contacts and removes foreign objects from the lens surface as it moves across the lens, enabling self-service cleaning without requiring the wearer to manually touch or adjust anything during exercise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A soft sheet is introduced as an intermediary element between the wearer and the lens, performing the foreign object removal function through mechanical contact while keeping the wearer's hands away from the lens and eliminating the need for complex automated mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 efficient and safe cleaning of the lens during high-speed sports, ensuring a clear line of sight for both right- and left-handed users by allowing the control assembly to be adjusted according to the wearer's dominant hand.

Implementation Method 1

The control assembly comprises a casing, a ratchet wheel, a pawl, a rope wheel, a pulling rope, a finger rod and an elastic member. The pawl is disposed in the casing and unidirectionally engaged with the ratchet wheel to limit the ratchet wheel for unidirectional rotation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRatchet mechanism: Ratchet

Implementation Method 2

The elastic member acts on the rope wheel to drive the rope wheel to wind up the pulling rope. By this, when the wearer manually pulls the finger rod with the dominant hand, the finger rod drives the rope wheel to rotate through the pulling rope, and then the rope wheel drives the ratchet wheel to rotate, and then the ratchet wheel drives the connected reel to rotate, so that a reel driven by the ratchet wheel further drives the soft sheet to move laterally relative to the lens. Conversely, once the finger rod is released, the rope wheel will be driven by the resetting force of the elastic member to roll up the pulling rope, so that the pulling rope will drive the finger rod to complete the reset.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3701919B1goggles
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 VOG IMAGE POLICE INC
  • EP3701919B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3701919B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3701919B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A goggle includes a goggle frame, a lens assembly including a lens mounted on the goggle frame, two reels rotatably mounted on the goggle frame on opposing left and right ends of the lens and a soft sheet mounted between the two reels and abutting the outer surface of the lens, and a control assembly that can be set on one of the two reels according to the dominant hand of the wearer. With this, once the soft sheet is dirty, the wearer operates the control assembly with his dominant hand, so that the control assembly drives the reel set to rotate. At this time, the driven reel will further drive the soft sheet to move laterally relative to the lens, and then roll up the dirty part, so that the soft sheet can always be kept clean in the part corresponding to the lens.