Spectacle Hinge Wedge Pin Snap-Fit Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spectacle frame hinges are complex to produce and assemble, require precision tools, and suffer from durability issues due to screw connections that loosen over time, leading to high production costs and reliability concerns.
Innovation Solution
A screwless hinge design featuring a wedge-shaped pin with chamfers and a cavity system that allows snap-fitting engagement between the pin and the front piece, reducing the number of components and simplifying assembly, while ensuring a robust and reliable coupling between the temples and the front piece.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screw pins and coupling elements are used to connect temples to the front piece, then the hinge allows adjustable and secure connection, but the production steps become long and complex, requiring precision tools and experienced personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the screw pin from the hinge assembly, extracting the problematic component that caused complexity in production and assembly. The temple is directly connected to the front piece through a simplified coupling mechanism without requiring separate fastening elements, thereby reducing production steps while maintaining connection security
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the pin and coupling elements into an integrated structure. The temple and front piece are directly coupled through a unified mechanism where the temple body itself forms part of the coupling system, eliminating the need for separate components and simplifying both production and assembly
2Ease of operation
If screw pins are used for connection, then the hinge can be adjusted by the user, but the screw connections eventually loosen and wear, reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a self-adjusting hinge mechanism where the elastic material allows automatic compensation for wear and positional changes. The elastic deformation of the temple or front piece enables the hinge to self-correct and maintain proper tension without requiring user intervention or adjustment, while the integrated structure prevents loosening
3Adaptability or versatility
If joining devices with hollow barrel body and rotation core are used, then the temples can rotate with respect to the front piece, but the large number of components and complex shapes increase production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rotation mechanism with the basic temple-front piece coupling structure. The elastic material itself provides the rotation capability through controlled deformation, eliminating the need for separate barrel bodies and rotation cores. The temple and front piece are shaped to directly enable rotational movement while remaining as integrated components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses elastic materials that can change their physical parameters (deformation, flexibility) to enable rotation. The material properties allow the structure to dynamically adapt during rotation, providing versatility without requiring additional mechanical components for the rotation function
4Manufacturing precision
If precision coupling among components is used, then the hinge can function properly, but misalignments and deformations can block the hinge, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs elastic materials that can dynamically change their physical state to accommodate variations in alignment and deformation. The elastic properties allow the structure to absorb misalignments and return to proper configuration, preventing blocking while maintaining functional precision without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances
Data Source
AI summary
Spectacle frame (1) comprising: a front piece (10); a pair of temples (20), each temple (20) extending between a first end portion (21) associated with the front piece (10) and a second end portion (22) that can be positioned on the ear of a user; a pair of hinges (30) configured to rotationally bind each temple (20) to the front piece (10), each hinge (30) comprising: a pin (40) extended along a development direction (A-A) between a first end (40a) and a second end (40b), coupling devices (50) associated with the first end portion (21) of each temple (20) and configured to engage the corresponding pin (40); a cavity (60) located in the front piece (10), the cavity (60) comprising: a first wall (70) and an opposite second wall (80) spaced along a spacing direction (B-B); and blocking devices (90) configured to engage the ends (40a, 40b) of the pins (40), the blocking devices (90) being shaped to match the first end (40a) and the second end (40b) of the pin (40) to prevent the pin (40) from making rotational movements around the development axis (A-A) and translational movements with respect to the blocking devices (90) as a result of mutual engagement between the ends (40a, 40b) of the pin (40) with the blocking devices (90); the first end (40a) and the second end (40b) of the pin (40) are wedge-shaped.