Preformed Seal Contours for Swimming Goggle Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swimming goggles cause discomfort due to the suction force required for an effective seal, leading to facial tissue distortion and red markings around the eye sockets.
Innovation Solution
A preformed seal portion that conforms to the wearer's face contours, reducing the need for significant pressure and minimizing facial distortion, with options for integral or separate design, including gel-filled U-shaped or tubular configurations, and adjustable for specific demographics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a foam pad seal portion is used and pressure is applied via the head strap to achieve an effective seal, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but wearer comfort deteriorates due to the tight head strap required
Solution Approach 1:
The seal portion is preformed to conform substantially with the wearer's face contours before contact, so that when the goggle is applied, the seal is already in a position to create an effective seal with minimal additional pressure, eliminating the need for tight head strap tension
Solution Approach 2:
The seal portion changes from a conventional flat or uniformly curved shape to a preformed shape that matches the specific contours of the wearer's face (including the eye socket region), allowing the seal to adapt to the face geometry without requiring high compression pressure
2Reliability
If a gasket-type seal with an annular flexible rubber flange is used to distort and conform to the wearer's face by expelling air, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but wearer comfort deteriorates due to the suction force causing facial tissue distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The seal portion is preformed to match the wearer's face contours in advance, so that when contact is made, the seal already conforms to the face shape and does not need to distort significantly or create strong suction forces to achieve sealing, thereby preventing facial tissue distortion and red markings
Solution Approach 2:
The seal portion is designed with a preformed shape that changes from conventional uniform curvature to a contoured shape matching the eye socket region, reducing the distortion required during sealing and minimizing the suction force needed to maintain the seal
3Ease of operation
If a preformed seal portion is used to conform to the wearer's face with minimal pressure, then wearer comfort is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to the need for preshaping the seal portion
Solution Approach 1:
The seal portion is formed integrally with the lens cup as a single molded piece, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly steps for the seal portion while achieving the preformed contour through the molding process itself, thus simplifying manufacturing despite the complex shape
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 preformed seal portion reduces discomfort and facial distortion, allowing for lower head strap tension and improved hydrodynamics, while maintaining an effective seal without obstructing the field of view.
Implementation Method 1
the pad is filled with a viscous fill substance such as a gel or gel-like fill substance
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3
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AI summary
Goggles are provided having a lens cup with a seal portion extending around its peripheral rear edge. The seal portion is adapted to seal against the face of a wearer of the goggles via a face contact surface. The face contact surface is preformed to follow substantially the contours of the wearer's face around the wearer's eye socket, so that little force between the seal portion and the wearer's face is required to achieve sealing. The face contact surface may be preformed in accordance with the average wearer from a demographic group or preformed bespoke for the wearer.