Retractable Earplug Assembly in Eyewear Temple Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction workers often lose or misplace small earplugs due to their small size and lack of secure storage when not in use, especially in noisy environments like construction sites, where prolonged exposure to high sound levels can cause hearing damage.
Innovation Solution
A retractable earplug assembly is integrated into eyewear temple arms, featuring a parking structure and flexible tether system that allows earplugs to be stored securely within the eyewear during non-use and easily accessed when needed, preventing loss and ensuring protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If earplugs are made small and portable, then they are easier to carry and less obtrusive, but they are easily lost or misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the earplug with a tether system and integrates the storage mechanism directly into the eyewear temple arm. This merging of previously separate components (earplug, tether, storage) into a unified system prevents loss while maintaining portability, as the earplug is permanently associated with the eyewear structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The earplug is nested within a cavity formed in the temple arm structure. When not in use, the earplug is stored inside this integrated cavity, which is part of the temple arm itself. This nesting approach ensures the earplug remains securely attached to the eyewear while being compact and portable.
2Reliability
If earplugs are integrated into eyewear, then they are securely stored and不易丢失, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temple arm structure serves multiple functions: it provides the structural support for the eyewear, contains the storage cavity for the earplug, and includes the tether attachment mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving secure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The temple arm is segmented to include a distinct cavity portion and tether mechanism portion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall integration, managing complexity through functional division rather than complete monolithic design.
3Reliability
If a cover member is added to enclose the earplug, then protection and organization are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is merged with the temple arm structure rather than being a completely separate component. It forms an integral part of the temple arm that encloses the cavity, reducing the number of discrete parts while providing protection and organization for the earplug.
Data Source
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AI summary
An eyewear temple arm mounted to an eyewear device, wherein a distal portion of the elongated body member defines a parking structure. A distal edge portion of the structure defines an opening into a cavity thereof which is formed and dimensioned for free sliding, peripheral receipt of at least the proximal portion of a functional element therein between an operational condition and a parked condition. A cover member is configured to cooperate with the parking structure for movement between an opened condition and a closed condition. In the opened condition, the functional element can be moved to the operational condition, while in the closed condition, the cover member extends over the parking structure opening to substantially enclose at least the distal portion of the functional element therein.