Overmolded Flexible Bridge Assembly for Rimless Eyewear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Eyeglasses made from rigid materials face challenges with flexure and breakage, and incorporating flexible elements complicates construction and assembly, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A flexible bridge assembly is created by overmolding rigid mounting members with a flexible body, using a softer plastic or elastomer material, allowing the eyewear to flex and resist breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If rigid materials are used for the frame, then the shape is maintained consistently, but the frame is prone to breakage and deformation under flexure
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is designed with different material properties in different regions: rigid mounting members (metal or hard plastic) at the lens attachment points provide shape consistency, while a flexible body material (softer plastic or elastomer) in the bridge region provides flexibility and breakage resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between maintaining shape and preventing breakage.
2Reliability
If flexible components are incorporated into the frame, then resistance to breakage is improved, but construction and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible body and mounting members are merged into a single integrated component through overmolding, where the flexible material is molded over the rigid mounting members. This combining eliminates the need for separate flexible components and reduces assembly steps, resolving the contradiction between improving reliability and reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame uses a composite structure combining rigid mounting members with a flexible body material through overmolding. This composite approach allows the single component to provide both rigidity where needed and flexibility elsewhere, improving breakage resistance without requiring multiple separate parts or complex assembly procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different materials are used in the frame, then flexibility and shape maintenance are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overmolding process creates a composite structure by molding flexible material over rigid mounting members in a single integrated component. This composite approach provides both flexibility and shape maintenance while avoiding the need for separate components that would require multiple manufacturing steps and increase costs.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining multiple materials into a single overmolded component, the invention eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly of different parts. The flexible body and rigid mounting members are produced as one piece, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the versatility benefits of using different materials.
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 flexible bridge assembly provides resilience and reduces the risk of breakage while maintaining structural integrity, enabling comfortable fit and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible body 30a, 30b, 32 made from a flexible material such as a softer plastic or elastomer material... allowing the eyewear to flex and resist breakage
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A flexible bridge assembly for eyewear is provided. The assembly includes a body comprising a flexible first mounting portion and a second flexible mounting portion each extending from opposite ends of a flexible central portion. The assembly also includes a first mounting member embedded in the first mounting portion; and a second mounting member embedded in the second mounting portion. The first mounting portion and first mounting member comprise a first passage to enable the flexible bridge assembly to be secured to a first lens of the eyewear, and the second mounting portion and second mounting member comprise a second passage to enable the flexible bridge assembly to be secured to a second lens of the eyewear. Rimless eyewear comprising the flexible bridge assembly is also provided.