Removable Lens Layer Stack With Dry Adhesive Optical Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multilayer tear off systems for eye protectors suffer from dirt accumulation, air-induced reflections, reduced impact resistance due to pins, and limited adaptability to varying eye protector shapes and designs, which compromise visibility and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
An optically clear stack with removable layers is attached using a self-wetting dry mount adhesive that matches refractive indices, forming a continuous adhesive layer to eliminate air and prevent dirt accumulation, while maintaining visual acuity and structural integrity without pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pins are used to attach the multilayer tear off system to the eye protector, then the system can be securely mounted, but the impact resistance of the eye protector is reduced due to holes created in the lens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the pins from the mounting system entirely. Instead of using pins that create holes in the lens, the system uses adhesive applied to the rear surface of the multilayer tear off system to bond directly to the front surface of the lens, extracting the harmful pin element while maintaining mounting security
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces adhesive as an intermediary substance between the multilayer tear off system and the eye protector lens. This adhesive layer bonds the two components together without creating holes in the lens, thereby maintaining both mounting security and impact resistance
2Ease of operation
If air is disposed between the lowest layer of the system and the lens of the eye protector, then the system can be easily attached, but undesirable reflections occur due to mismatch in indices of refraction, reducing visual acuity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the optical parameter (index of refraction) of the adhesive to match that of the lens and multilayer system. This parameter matching eliminates the refractive index mismatch that causes reflections, thereby maintaining visual acuity while the adhesive provides easy attachment
3Manufacturing precision
If a continuous adhesive layer is used to eliminate air between layers, then internal reflections are reduced, but the adhesive must be optically clear to maintain visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by making the adhesive optically clear specifically in the regions where light transmission is needed for visibility, while still providing continuous adhesive coverage for structural bonding. The adhesive has different properties in different aspects: optically clear for visibility, yet sufficiently adhesive for bonding
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 solution significantly reduces internal reflections, maintains visibility, and preserves the structural integrity of eye protectors by matching refractive indices and using a self-wetting adhesive, ensuring clear vision even in dusty conditions and high wind speeds.
Implementation Method 1
air between the stack and the lens can be removed after the stack is attached and/or adhered to the lens... undesirable reflections caused by a mismatch in the indices of refraction between lens, the system, and the air disposed therebetween
Implementation Method 2
The dry mount adhesive layer can be self-wetting and attaches the stack to the lens so that air between the stack and the lens can be removed after the stack is attached
Data Source
AI summary
An eye protector includes a lens configured to protect the wearer from projectiles, and an optically clear stack attached to the lens. The stack can have one or more removable layers. The eye protector also includes an optically clear dry mount adhesive layer attaching the stack to the lens. The dry mount adhesive may be self-wetting to attach the stack to the lens so that air between the stack and the lens can be removed after the stack is attached and/or adhered to the lens, for example, by applying pressure across the surface of the stack. The refractive indices of the lens, the dry mount adhesive, and each removable layer are matched to within about 0.2.