Customized Optical Attachment with Pivot Eyepieces for Neck Strain
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical devices, such as binoculars and monoculars, cause neck and back strain due to inadequate support for the user's head and neck, and fail to provide an optimal visual environment, leading to muscle fatigue and long-term damage, as they do not allow for comfortable resting and proper adjustment of the eyepieces to individual pupillary distances and eye relief.
Innovation Solution
A customized attachment for standalone optical devices that includes a mask with adjustable eyepieces secured by mechanical pivots, allowing the user to rest their head and neck, with lenses positioned at optimal eye relief distances tailored to the user's pupillary distance, and featuring flexible materials to accommodate movement and prevent dry eyes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fixed eyepieces are used, then the optical device structure is simple, but the user experiences neck and back strain due to inability to rest head comfortably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the eyepieces movable relative to the mask through pivot mechanisms. The eyepieces can rotate and adjust to accommodate different user positions and head orientations, transforming the static viewing system into a dynamic one that adapts to user needs, thereby eliminating neck and back strain while maintaining structural feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the viewing system into a fixed mask portion and movable eyepiece portions. The mask remains stationary while the eyepieces are separated and made independently adjustable through pivots, allowing the user to position each eyepiece optimally without moving the entire device, thus improving comfort without excessive complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed eyepiece positions are used, then the device is easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate individual pupillary distances and eye relief variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic pivot mechanisms that allow eyepieces to be positioned at multiple angles and distances. This enables customization to individual pupillary distances and eye relief variations without requiring multiple fixed positions or complex adjustable mechanisms, balancing adaptability with manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameters of the eyepieces through pivot-based movement. Instead of manufacturing different devices for different users, the system allows parameter adjustment (position, angle, distance) of the eyepieces to match individual user anatomy, achieving customization through simple mechanical movement rather than complex manufacturing
3Reliability
If the user must hold head steady in fixed positions, then the optical alignment is optimal, but neck and back muscles become fatigued during extended use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the eyepieces dynamic rather than fixed, allowing them to move with the user's head position changes. This maintains optimal optical alignment between the eyepiece lenses and the user's pupils even when the user moves their head for comfort, thereby extending the duration of comfortable use without sacrificing image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot mechanisms allow the eyepieces to automatically adjust to maintain alignment as the user moves their head. The system serves itself by maintaining optical alignment through user movement rather than requiring the user to maintain a fixed position, eliminating muscle fatigue while preserving image quality
4Ease of operation
If traditional eyepiece cups are used, then the device structure is simple, but they provide only two small contact points causing discomfort during prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mask with a contoured surface that provides extended contact area with the user's face. This flexible or adaptable surface distributes pressure across multiple points rather than two small eyepiece cups, improving comfort during extended use while maintaining relatively simple device structure through the mask design
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an attachment for a standalone optical device to alleviate back and neck strain which allows the eyes of the user relative to the eyepieces of the optical device, with embodiments allowing inclusion of preset values such as shape and dimension of the user's face, eye relief distance, pupillary distance. Movement of the eyes is achieved either by a mechanical pivot or by stretching of the mask being comprised of flexible material.