Nose Bridge Extender for Over-the-Glasses Eyewear Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional over-the-glasses (OTG) eyewear often causes misalignment and discomfort by resting on prescription eyewear frames, and can damage them due to downward pressure, especially when intended to deflect debris.

Innovation Solution

A frame support member that engages the user's nose to position secondary eyewear above and away from primary eyewear, reducing interference and downward forces, with adjustable features for flexibility and extendibility to accommodate different users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If OTG eyewear frames rest on prescription eyewear frames to provide support, then the OTG eyewear can be supported on the user's face, but the prescription eyewear frames are pulled downward causing misalignment and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport capabilityVSAvoidlens alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a nose bridge extender as an intermediary component between the OTG eyewear frame and the prescription eyewear frame. This extender transfers the support function from the OTG frame directly to the user's nose, eliminating the downward pulling force on the prescription eyewear while maintaining proper lens alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The nose bridge support structure is segmented into separate components: the prescription eyewear frame, the OTG eyewear frame, and an independent nose bridge extender. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with others, particularly preserving the alignment of the prescription lenses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If OTG frames deflect debris from the user's face as intended, then safety protection is provided, but the OTG frames push against the front of prescription lenses causing damage or facial impingement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedebris protectionVSAvoidlens damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The nose bridge extender acts as a mediator that positions the OTG frame further from the face, allowing it to effectively deflect debris without pushing against the prescription lenses. This intermediary structure creates sufficient spacing to eliminate the harmful contact while maintaining the protective deflection function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If OTG eyewear is designed to fit over prescription eyewear, then users can wear both simultaneously, but downward forces from secondary eyewear are imparted on primary eyewear causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoiddownward force
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The nose bridge extender serves as a force-transferring intermediary that redirects the downward force from the OTG eyewear directly to the user's nose rather than transmitting it to the prescription eyewear frame. This maintains compatibility between the two eyewear types while eliminating the harmful downward force on the primary eyewear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3568726B1Frame support member and frame support assembly for over-the-glasses (OTG) eyewear
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 SHELDON BRENT
  • EP3568726B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3568726B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3568726B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a frame support member for eyewear having a frame, with the frame including a nose bridge. The frame support member includes an attachment portion at a first end thereof for coupling the frame support member to the nose bridge of the eyewear, and a nose engaging portion at a second end thereof. The frame support member is configured to position the nose engaging portion below and behind the nose bridge for supporting the eyewear on a user. There is also provided eyewear that includes a frame for supporting at least one lens, a nose bridge for supporting the frame on a user, and the frame support member as herein described. A frame support assembly is also provided, which includes the frame support member and an extender to be coupled to the eyewear frame.