Spectacle Spring Hinge Direct Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spring hinges for spectacles are complex and costly due to the need for a massive hinge element and complex temple piece machining, as well as the requirement for additional components like spring pistons and guiding grooves.

Innovation Solution

A spring hinge design featuring a directly coupled spring element and blocking body, eliminating the need for a spring piston and allowing for a simple locking mechanism with prestress forces, where the spring element and blocking body are angled to enhance functional reliability and force transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a spring piston and blocking body are used to transmit forces, then the locking function is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking functionVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the spring element and blocking body into a directly coupled system where the spring element acts directly on the blocking body without requiring a separate spring piston. This merging of components simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the force transmission and locking functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the spring piston component from the traditional mechanism, relying instead on the direct coupling between the spring element and blocking body to achieve the same functional outcome with fewer parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If a massive hinge element is manufactured, then the structural strength is improved, but the production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the hinge system into separate functional components (hinge element, spring element, blocking body) that can be manufactured independently and assembled together. This allows for optimized manufacturing of each component rather than producing one massive piece, reducing production costs while maintaining overall structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge element is designed as a thin-walled structure rather than a massive component, utilizing appropriate material properties and structural design to achieve the required strength with reduced material usage and lower manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If a U-shaped guiding groove is provided in the temple piece, then the housing guidance is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity of the temple piece increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing guidanceVSAvoidtemple piece machining

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing guidance features in the temple piece (which would require complex machining), the patent inverts the approach by providing the guiding groove in the housing itself. This reversal of where the guidance feature is located simplifies the temple piece manufacturing while achieving the same guidance function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Device complexity

If the blocking body is not subjected to prestress force in locking position, then the structure is simpler, but the functional reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidfunctional reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element is pre-loaded to exert a prestress force on the blocking body even in the locked position. This preliminary action ensures that the blocking body remains securely engaged with the locking surface, preventing accidental disengagement and enhancing functional reliability without requiring additional structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This design simplifies the production and assembly of the hinge, reduces costs, and ensures high functional reliability by eliminating the need for complex components and machining, while maintaining effective locking and resetting functionality.

Implementation Method 1

At least one spring element subjects the blocking body to a prestress force due to which the blocking body can be displaced out of an unlocking position into a locking position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

Due to the direct coupling of spring element and blocking body, the spring element subjects the blocking body to a prestress force by means of which the blocking body can be displaced out of an unlocking position into a locking position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrestress force: Force

Data Source

PatentUS8302259B2Spring hinge for spectacles

Publication Date: 2012.11.06 OBE OHNMACHT & BAUMGARTNER GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A spring hinge for spectacles includes a housing, a hinge element, at least one spring element, and a blocking body. The housing has a recess which at least partially accommodates the hinge element, the at least one spring element, and the blocking body. The spring element and the blocking body are coupled directly to one another. At least one spring element subjects the blocking body to a prestress force on account of which the blocking body can be displaced out of an unlocking position into a locking position in which it interacts with a locking surface.