Magnetic Endpiece Assemblies for Eyeglass Frame Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional eyeglass frames with exterior fasteners like screws and hinges are prone to breakage, loosening, and misalignment, leading to discomfort and inconvenience, especially when switching between different types of eyewear for various activities, resulting in economic and material waste.
Innovation Solution
A self-adjusting endpiece assembly using magnetic members with opposing polarities to connect temples and frame fronts without external fasteners, allowing for secure, durable, and flexible attachment that maintains shape and alignment, and facilitates easy maintenance and switching between different eyewear configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If exterior fasteners like screws and hinges are used to connect temples and frame front, then the connection can be adjusted and secured, but the fasteners are prone to breakage, loosening, and wear over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes exterior fasteners (screws, hinges) from the eyeglass frame structure entirely. Instead, it uses an integrated endpiece assembly with magnetic members embedded within the temple and frame front, eliminating the need for separate fastening components that are prone to failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of connection, adjustment, and securing into a single integrated endpiece assembly. The magnetic members are embedded directly within the temple and frame front structures, combining what were previously separate components (fasteners, adjustment mechanisms, and structural elements) into a unified system.
2Weight of moving object
If lightweight materials are used to reduce frame weight and prevent slippage, then user comfort is improved, but the frames become more delicate and prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction by embedding magnetic members (which provide structural strength and magnetic holding force) within the lightweight frame materials. This creates a composite structure where the lightweight material maintains comfort while the embedded magnetic components provide enhanced strength and damage resistance.
3Ease of operation
If traditional fasteners are used to connect temples, then the connection can be secured, but the fasteners require manual tightening and maintenance over time
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic endpiece assembly provides self-adjusting and self-maintaining functionality. The magnetic attraction automatically maintains the connection between temples and frame front, eliminating the need for manual tightening or maintenance that would otherwise be required for traditional mechanical fasteners.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pairs of eyeglasses are purchased for different activities, then appropriate eyewear can be selected for each activity, but economic and material waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single eyeglass frame to serve multiple functions and configurations through interchangeable temple and endpiece assemblies. Users can customize and reconfigure the same frame for different activities (sports, outdoor, work, crafting) by swapping temple components, eliminating the need to purchase multiple specialized pairs of glasses.
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 magnetic endpiece assembly provides a secure, comfortable, and durable connection that maintains eyeglasses' shape and alignment, reduces wear and tear, and allows for easy adaptation to different uses, enhancing user flexibility and sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
magnetic members with opposing polarities to connect temples and frame fronts
Data Source
AI summary
Endpiece assemblies for eyeglass frames and eyeglasses are shown and disclosed. In one embodiment, the endpiece assembly includes an elongate body having a channel partially defined by an elongate bottom wall of the elongate body. The elongate body adapted to be attached to, or formed with, a temple of the eyeglass frame. The endpiece assembly additionally includes an intermediate member having first and second end portions and a first central portion therebetween. The first central portion and the second end portion are received in the channel and the first end portion adapted to connect to a connecting bar of the frame front of the eyeglass frame. The endpiece assembly further includes a first plurality of magnets disposed within the channel.