Adaptor for Securing Eyewear Lenses to Rimless Frames
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technologies face challenges in efficiently and cost-effectively securing prescription lenses to rimless eyeglass frames, particularly wing style frames, due to the need for complex and expensive manufacturing processes, which limits the availability and affordability of easily replaceable lenses.
Innovation Solution
An adaptor is affixed to the eyewear lens, featuring protrusions that engage with recesses in the frame, allowing for easy mounting and replacement of lenses using methods such as filaments, adhesives, or mechanical fasteners, enabling the use of conventional equipment for lens cutting and alignment, thus simplifying the process and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional lens mounting methods are used in rimless frames, then structural integrity is maintained, but lens replacement requires specialized tools and skills beyond the typical wearer's ability
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into separate components: an adaptor that attaches to the lens and a frame structure with recesses. This allows the lens itself to remain simple while the mounting function is separated into a removable adaptor component, enabling easy lens replacement without requiring the wearer to handle complex mounting mechanisms directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor serves as an intermediary component between the lens and the frame. It simplifies the interface by providing a standardized connection mechanism that can be easily attached and detached, mediating between the simple lens and the frame structure without requiring the wearer to deal with complex mounting procedures.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex-shaped prescription lenses are used in rimless frames, then vision correction is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase due to specialized equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor is pre-configured with attachment features (protrusions or notches) that correspond to recesses in the frame. This preliminary configuration allows conventional lens cutting equipment to be used without requiring expensive five-axis systems, as the precise positioning is achieved through the pre-designed adaptor-frame interface rather than complex lens shaping.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating complex shapes directly on expensive prescription lenses, the mounting functionality is copied onto a separate, inexpensive adaptor component. This allows conventional equipment to cut standard lens shapes while the adaptor provides the complex positioning and attachment features, separating the expensive precision requirement from the lens itself.
3Reliability
If lenses are permanently secured to the frame, then structural stability is improved, but lens replacement becomes difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic removable attachment. The adaptor can be securely attached to provide reliable lens mounting during use, but can also be easily removed and reattached for lens replacement. This dynamic capability allows the system to provide both reliability during wear and ease of replacement during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for the temporary discarding of the lens-adaptor assembly from the frame for replacement purposes. The adaptor itself can be recovered and reused with new lenses, separating the disposable lens component from the reusable adaptor and frame components, thereby facilitating easy lens replacement without compromising overall system reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptor to be affixed to an eyeglass lens and received in an eyeglass frame, to facilitate the fitting and replacement of various shapes of lenses into a variety of eyeglass frames, particularly, rimless and partial rim frames, wing frames, three-piece frames and frames with complex shapes.