Spinnable Spectacle Frames with Ball and Socket Joint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional eyeglass frames are not designed to withstand the stress of spinning, which can cause strain on the frame structures and lenses, leading to potential damage.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a spin joint in the temple arms that allows the frame and lenses to rotate freely around a spin axis, reducing stress on the frame and lenses, and using a ball and socket joint to secure the rotation without allowing the distal portion to pull away from the proximal portion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional eyeglass frames are used for spinning, then the frame structure and lenses are subjected to stress and potential damage, but the user wants to spin the eyeglasses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespinning capabilityVSAvoidframe durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The temple arm is divided into two separate portions: a proximal portion that remains fixed to the frame and a distal portion that can rotate independently. This segmentation allows the user to spin the distal portion without transmitting stress to the frame or lenses, thereby enabling spinning capability while maintaining frame durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A rotation interface (ball and socket joint) is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the proximal and distal portions of the temple arm. This intermediary allows controlled rotation of the distal portion while preventing stress transmission to the frame, resolving the contradiction between spinning ease and frame reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the temple arm is made rigid to prevent pulling away, then rotation is restricted, but the distal portion needs to rotate freely for spinning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation freedomVSAvoidtemple arm integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The temple arm transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic articulated structure with a ball and socket joint. This allows the distal portion to rotate freely during spinning while the joint maintains structural integrity by preventing the distal portion from pulling away from the proximal portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The degree of freedom of the temple arm is changed by introducing a rotation interface. The proximal portion maintains fixed parameters (no rotation), while the distal portion gains rotational freedom, allowing the system to adapt between stability and rotation freedom as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11709377B2Spinnable frames for spectacles

Publication Date: 2023.07.25 WARBY PARKER INC

AI summary

Spinnable frames for spectacles are provided. A spinnable frame allows a user to hold a distal end of one of the temples and freely spin the remainder of the spectacles around that end of the temple. A spin joint is provided in at least one of the temples that allows this spinning action. The spin joint may span an interface between the distal end of the temple and a proximal end of the temple, the proximal end being coupled to a front portion of the frame at a hinge interface. In this way, the temple arm is allowed to fold against the front portion for compact storage, as with conventional eyeglass frames, while facilitating spinning of the spectacles in a way that avoids excess forces on the hinge interface and/or other portions of the frame or lenses mounted therein.