Miniaturized Hinge Guiding Zone for Glasses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elastic hinges for glasses temples are complex, large, and costly to produce, leading to size reduction challenges that result in clearance issues such as rotation and vertical translation clearances, which affect the fit and durability of the frames.
Innovation Solution
An elastic miniaturized hinge with a box featuring guiding zones, including protrusions with internal cheeks and channel-shaped guiding seats, allows for precise guidance of connecting elements like screws or pins, eliminating axial rotation and enhancing resistance during movement, while reducing the hinge's size and assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If elastic hinges are miniaturized to reduce size and weight, then the visual impact and weight of the frame are reduced, but rotation clearances and vertical translation clearances increase, affecting fit and durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guiding zone with cheek and guiding seat structure that adds a dimensional constraint mechanism. The guiding seat receives the connecting element with precise dimensional tolerances, controlling rotation and vertical translation clearances through the geometry of the guiding zone rather than relying solely on the overall hinge size.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element (screw, pin, or stud) acts as an intermediary between the articulation and the box. By precisely fitting this connecting element into the guiding seat within the guiding zone, the patent achieves precise clearance control without increasing the overall hinge dimensions.
2Reliability
If conventional elastic hinge designs are used to ensure durability and proper fit, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guiding function and the connection function into a single integrated structure. The guiding zone with its cheek and guiding seat is formed as part of the box structure, eliminating the need for separate guiding components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element serves multiple functions: it connects the articulation to the box, and simultaneously engages with the guiding seat to provide precise rotational and translational control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.
3Shape
If hinge size is reduced to minimize visual impact, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but additional contact surfaces and guiding structures are required, potentially increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specialized guiding zone with specific geometric features (cheek and guiding seat) only where needed for connection guidance. The rest of the hinge structure remains simple and compact, maintaining aesthetic appearance while providing necessary guidance functionality in the critical local area.
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 improved resistance to opening, closing, and extra-opening movements, reduces size, and eliminates the need for additional contact surfaces, enabling precise fitting and increased precision without increasing the product's height, thus addressing the clearance issues and assembly challenges of existing designs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic hinge, in order to engage that part of the front of the glasses... it has the value to favour an effective absorption action of accidental impacts
Data Source
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AI summary
Elastic miniatured hinge for flex temples, with box provided with at least a guiding zone for the connection of the articulation to a seat joined to the front of the glasses, including: - a box; - a housing along the box containing the articulation trolley; - the articulation trolley, which includes at least one spring and which is contained inside of the box, while the articulation exits from the front end of the box; in which, peripherally with respect to the opening of the housing obtained at the front end of the box, at least one guiding zone is obtained, said guiding zone consisting of a cheek of a protrusion longitudinally projected with respect to the box, where said cheek is parallel and oriented toward at least one of two lateral faces of the articulation, and furthermore in which said protrusion is provided with a guiding seat with opening along the front profile and longitudinally projected with respect to the sliding longitudinal axis of the articulation trolley.