Open Loop Magnet for Spectacle Frame Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spectacle frames with magnetic couplings face challenges in providing adequate mounting strength without excessive thickness constraints, ensuring secure attachment, and minimizing magnetic field exposure to the wearer's head, while also preventing demagnetization and maintaining aesthetic appeal.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic coupling system using a permanent magnet in the shape of an open loop, where the magnetic poles are located at the ends of the loop, coupled with a ferromagnetic element between the poles, ensuring strong attachment without bulkiness and confining the magnetic field within a ferromagnetic circuit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a permanent magnet is used for coupling removable elements to the frame support, then the mounting strength is improved and accidental detachment is prevented, but the magnetic field exposure to the wearer's head increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting strengthVSAvoidmagnetic field exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The magnet is segmented into two separate components: a permanent magnet embedded in the frame support and a ferromagnetic element embedded in the removable element. This segmentation allows the magnetic field to be confined to the interface between these two components, preventing excessive exposure to the wearer's head while maintaining strong coupling at the attachment point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A ferromagnetic element is introduced as an intermediary between the permanent magnet and the removable element. This intermediary concentrates and confines the magnetic field within the coupling interface, acting as a magnetic circuit that prevents field leakage toward the wearer's head while maintaining strong attachment force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the magnet size is increased to provide adequate mounting strength, then the attachment security is improved, but the thickness constraints of the removable element are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidthickness of removable element
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic coupling system is divided into two separate embeddable components: a permanent magnet in the frame support and a ferromagnetic element in the removable element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling strong attachment without requiring excessive thickness in either component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a composite magnetic coupling approach combining a permanent magnet material with a ferromagnetic material. This composite arrangement creates a complete magnetic circuit that achieves strong attachment security while maintaining thin profile dimensions in both the frame support and removable element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If the magnet is positioned to provide strong coupling force, then the mounting strength is improved, but the risk of demagnetization increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling forceVSAvoidmagnetization stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic system is segmented into a permanent magnet and a ferromagnetic element positioned at the coupling interface. This segmentation allows the permanent magnet to be positioned optimally for generating coupling force while the ferromagnetic element acts as a flux concentrator, reducing demagnetizing fields and protecting the permanent magnet's magnetization stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution provides a robust, easy-to-handle magnetic coupling that prevents accidental detachment, maintains magnetization, and minimizes magnetic field exposure, while allowing for various material choices and aesthetic flexibility without compromising the frame's slim design.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic coupling system using a permanent magnet in the shape of an open loop, where the magnetic poles are located at the ends of the loop

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

the permanent magnet is coupled to the articulation and join element of a temple piece of said frame support

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Implementation Method 3

coupled with a ferromagnetic element between the poles, ensuring strong attachment without bulkiness and confining the magnetic field within a ferromagnetic circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFerromagnetism: Ferromagnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3326024B1Magnetic attachment system for removable elements in spectacle frames
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 GIULIANI DEA
  • EP3326024B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3326024B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4c
  • EP3326024B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The field of application of this invention concerns the construction of spectacles frames. In particular, it discloses a type of eyeglass frames characterized by having the removable parts that can be replaced with absolute simplicity in order to aesthetically modify the frame itself. The ease of use is guaranteed by the presence, in those removable parts, of particular magnets characterized by having a special shape of "open loop". This shape makes these magnets highly efficient to mate very firmly also with very small elements of the frame support of this new type of spectacle frame. The use of such magnetic-type latches gives a very wide flexibility to the overall fastening system of said removable parts, in that it does not impose significant constraints of size, and even constraints on the choice of materials to use.