Retractable Eyeglass Arms with Hinged Side Shields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eyeglass side shields are either easily lost or broken when clipped on, and permanently mounted designs are less fashionable and difficult to store.
Innovation Solution
An eyeglass system with hingedly connected side shields and retractable arms, allowing users to switch between protracted and retracted positions for wear and storage, utilizing a biasing mechanism and locking hooks for easy conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If side shields are permanently mounted to the glasses, then they provide secure attachment and protection, but they are less fashionable and difficult to store in a sleeve or case
Solution Approach 1:
The side shields are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to rotate between a first position extending lateral to the frame for wear and a second position parallel to the frame for storage. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by providing secure attachment during wear while enabling easy storage when not in use.
2Ease of operation
If side shields are clipped onto the frame or arms, then they are easier to attach and detach, but they can be lost or broken more easily
Solution Approach 1:
The side shields are integrated with the arms through a coupling mechanism, merging two previously separate components. This combination provides both the ease of attachment/detachment of separate components and the security of a unified structure, as the coupled configuration distributes mechanical stress across multiple connection points.
3Adaptability or versatility
If arms are made retractable with user select mechanisms, then they provide versatility for wear and storage, but they increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The arm sections are designed to nest within each other, with the second section retracting into the first section when not in use. This nesting mechanism provides position flexibility for both wear and storage configurations while minimizing the overall space required and reducing the apparent complexity of the mechanism.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If side shields extend lateral to the frame for wear, then they provide protection against side angle sunlight and particles, but they increase the overall size for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The side shields are designed to rotate between an extended position lateral to the frame for protection during wear and a retracted position parallel to the frame for compact storage. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to provide maximum protection when needed while minimizing storage volume when not in use.
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
Provides increased protection and fashionability while allowing easy storage by enabling side shields to rotate parallel to the frame for compact storage and secure attachment to the ears for wear.
Implementation Method 1
Each section may contain a cavity for housing components, such as a biasing mechanism that is compressed when the arms are in the retracted position and released when the arms are in the protracted position
Implementation Method 2
The left side shield is hingedly connected at a location inset from the left side edge and the right side shield is hingedly connected at a location inset from the right side edge
Data Source
AI summary
An eyeglass system having a frame, left and right side shields connected to the frame at inset locations from the edge of the frame, arms connected to the side shields, and user select mechanisms for releasing the arms from a retracted position to a protracted position. The protracted position allows the length of the arms to be long enough for the temple tips to rest over the ears of the wearer while the retracted position allows the arms and side shields to close without the left side arm extending past the right side edge of the frame and the right side arm from extending past the left side edge of the frame in the closed position.