Interchangeable Eyewear with Biased Ball Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional eyeglasses require multiple frames for different light conditions and venues, leading to inconvenience and increased costs, especially for custom or expensive frames.
Innovation Solution
A modular eyeglass frame system that allows easy engagement and disengagement of multiple pairs of lenses from a kit, using individual openings with U-shaped recesses and biased balls for secure mounting, enabling a single frame to accommodate various lenses for different purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users employ multiple eyeglass frames for different light conditions and venues, then vision adaptation to different environments is improved, but cost and inconvenience increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the eyeglass system into two separable components: a permanent frame and interchangeable lens assemblies. Each lens assembly can be independently selected for different lighting conditions and venues, allowing users to adapt their vision without needing multiple complete eyeglass frames. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling environmental adaptation through lens selection rather than frame multiplication.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is designed with universal engagement features that can accommodate multiple different lens assemblies. The frame structure includes openings and retention mechanisms that work with various lens types (tinted, clear, prescription, etc.), making a single frame multi-functional for different environments. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized frames while maintaining adaptability to various lighting conditions and venues.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom or expensive designer frames are used, then frame quality and style are improved, but the cost of having multiple frames for different purposes becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the expensive frame component from the interchangeable lens assemblies, users invest in a single high-quality frame that can be paired with multiple lens types. This segmentation allows the frame to retain its value and quality while the lenses provide the variety needed for different purposes, significantly reducing the total cost compared to owning multiple complete eyeglass sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate various lens assemblies for different purposes (prescription, sunglasses, safety, fashion). This multi-functionality allows users to maximize the utility of a single frame investment, replacing lenses rather than entire frames, thereby reducing the quantity of expensive frame materials needed and lowering overall costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lenses are permanently engaged with the frame, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to switch lenses for different conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lens engagement system transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic reversible connection. The retention mechanism (such as springs, clips, or screws) allows the lens assembly to be securely held during use but easily removed and replaced when needed. This dynamic design enables both stable operation during wearing and flexible interchangeability for different conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary retention mechanism is introduced between the frame and lens assemblies. This mediator component (such as a clip, spring, or screw system) provides the connection function, ensuring stable attachment during use while enabling easy removal and replacement. The intermediary element decouples the permanence of the frame from the interchangeability of the lenses, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An eyewear device having a frame positionable to a removable engagement with any of a plurality of lens assemblies. Each lens assembly has shoulders at opposing ends which slidably engage within respective shoulder slots formed into the body of the frame. A biased ball having a portion extending into one or both shoulder slots, biasly contacts into a ball cavity depending into a respective shoulder to maintain the lens assembly in the removable engagement.