Smart Glasses Hinge Assembly for Extra-Flex Cable Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current smart glasses hinges suffer from excessive bending and breaking of cables due to stress during rotation, and lack the flexibility to achieve an 'extra-flex' operating position beyond 90 degrees, leading to discomfort and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A bistable and flexible hinge assembly that allows for an 'extra-flex' operating position, featuring a support plate and support body with guide grooves and protrusions to manage cable stress, and includes a masking and guide body to prevent critical bending.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a common hinge is used in smart glasses, then the structure is simple, but the cable excessively bends and deteriorates or breaks under stress during rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge structureVSAvoidcable durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A cable management component is introduced as an intermediary element between the hinge and the cable. This component includes a cable guide channel that directs the cable's path and a cable retention feature that secures the cable, preventing it from bending excessively or breaking during hinge rotation. The intermediary component absorbs the mechanical stress that would otherwise be transmitted directly to the cable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a bistable hinge is used to keep the temple stationary, then stability is improved, but the cable is still subjected to excessive stress during rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemple stabilityVSAvoidcable stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cable management component serves as a mediator that decouples the mechanical stress generated by bistable hinge rotation from the cable. The cable guide channel and retention feature ensure the cable remains protected even when the hinge transitions between stable positions, preventing stress concentration and cable damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If a rigid hinge structure is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the cable cannot accommodate flexible positioning and excessive bending occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge assembly precisionVSAvoidcable flexibility accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a rigid hinge structure for precision and stability, and a separate cable management component with a guide channel for flexible cable accommodation. This segmentation allows the rigid hinge to maintain manufacturing precision while the cable management component provides the necessary flexibility and adaptability for the cable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the temple is allowed to rotate freely for extra-flex position, then comfort is improved, but the cable bends beyond elastic limits and breaks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewearing comfortVSAvoidcable strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cable management component acts as a mediator that enables the temple to rotate freely for extra-flex positioning while protecting the cable from excessive bending. The guide channel constrains the cable's path to prevent it from bending beyond its elastic limits, and the retention feature secures the cable throughout the rotation range, maintaining cable strength while improving wearing comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4533170B1Hinge assembly for glasses and glasses comprising such a hinge assembly
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 LUXOTTICA SRL
  • EP4533170B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4533170B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~2a
  • EP4533170B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~2c

AI summary

Hinge assembly for glasses (100) comprising: a support plate (110) comprising a first cantilevered portion (113) and a second cantilevered portion (114) respectively having a first through hole (115) and a second through hole (116); a support body (130) rotatably coupled to the support plate (110), the support body (130) comprising a third through hole (132), a slotted through hole (133) and at least one housing chamber (138); a first arm element (140) and a second arm element (150) having respective first perforated end portions (141, 151) arranged respectively at the first through hole (115) and the second through hole (116), and respective second perforated end portions (142, 152) housed at the third through hole (132), a first coupling pin (136) crossing the third through hole (132); a third arm element (160) and a fourth arm element (170) having respective third perforated end portions (161, 171) rotatably coupled respectively to the first perforated end portions (141, 151) and respective fourth perforated end portions (162, 172) housed at the slotted through hole (133), a second coupling pin (137) crossing the slotted through hole (133); at least one elastic element (139) housed in the at least one housing chamber (138).