Spectacle Spring Hinge Anti-Rotation Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spring hinges for spectacles do not ensure optimal guidance within the housing of the glasses, leading to potential misalignment and discomfort during wear.

Innovation Solution

A spring hinge design that incorporates a U-shaped hinge element, a helical spring, and a closure part integrated into the temple or central part of the glasses, with an anti-rotation device and a fastening mechanism to secure the closure part within the housing, ensuring precise guidance and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the hinge element, spring element and closure part are integrated into the bracket or central part without a separate housing, then the spring hinge is more invisible and integrated into the spectacles, but the guidance of the hinge element becomes insufficient leading to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration into spectaclesVSAvoidguidance of hinge element
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The closure part is segmented into a base body and a separate anti-rotation device. The base body provides lateral guidance between the arms, while the anti-rotation device protruding from the base body provides rotational guidance against the inner surfaces of the arms, creating multi-directional guidance without a separate housing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-rotation device adds a vertical dimension to the guidance mechanism by protruding upward from the base body. This vertical protrusion interacts with the inner surfaces of the arms to prevent rotation, while the base body width controls lateral movement, achieving guidance in multiple dimensions through integrated components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the closure part is made wider to fit between the arms with no play, then lateral guidance is improved, but rotation control is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral guidanceVSAvoidrotation control
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The closure part is divided into functional segments: the base body width (matching arm distance) provides lateral guidance, while the separately formed anti-rotation device provides rotational stability. This segmentation allows each feature to be optimized for its specific guidance function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-rotation device creates periodic contact points with the inner surfaces of the arms during rotation attempts. The protruding structure engages and disengages from the arm surfaces, providing continuous rotational resistance through repeated contact cycles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the anti-rotation device protrudes over the base body, then rotation is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation preventionVSAvoidclosure part structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-rotation device and base body are merged into a single closure part component. The anti-rotation device is formed as an integral extension of the base body, combining rotational prevention and lateral guidance functions into one piece rather than using separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure part serves multiple functions: the base body provides lateral guidance and structural support, while the anti-rotation device protruding from it provides rotational control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The design provides optimal guidance and stability for the hinge element, preventing rotation and lateral movement, thus enhancing the comfort and functionality of the glasses by ensuring the temples maintain preferred positions relative to the central part.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element (5) which is arranged between the arms (13, 13') of the hinge element (3) when the spring hinge (1) is in the assembled state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2539761B1Spring hinge
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 OBE OHNMACHT & BAUMGARTNER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2539761B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2539761B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2539761B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a spring hinge for spectacles with two sidepieces and a central part, comprising a U-shaped hinge element (3) having two hinge eyes (11, 11'); a spring element (5); a housing (7) which has a cavity (17) for accommodating the hinge element (3) and the spring element (5) and which is also part of the sidepieces (51) and/or part of the central part of the spectacles; and a closure part (9) which holds the hinge element(3) in the housing (7). Said spring hinge is distinguished in that the closure part (9) can be arranged between arms (13, 13') of the U-shaped hinge element (3) and in the cavity (17) of the housing (7) and can be fixed by means of a fastening device (29), and in that at least one surface of the closure part (9) bears on the inner surface of the cavity (17) in the housing (7).