Thin Polarizing Lens for Rimless Sunglasses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing lightweight rimless sunglasses with polarizing lenses face challenges in achieving sufficient clamping force and mechanical strength while maintaining a reduced weight, as thinner lenses compromise strength and thicker lenses increase weight, leading to issues with lens durability and frame stability.

Innovation Solution

A polarizing lens with an injection-molded polyamide-based resin layer, adjusted for specific flexural modulus and center thickness, is integrated into rimless sunglasses to enhance clamping force and mechanical strength, allowing for a lightweight design without compromising durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the thickness of the polarizing lens is reduced to decrease weight, then the weight of the sunglasses is reduced, but the mechanical strength and clamping force are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of sunglassesVSAvoidmechanical strength and clamping force
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite structure consisting of a polarizing film layer and a resin layer (polycarbonate or polyester) to create a laminated polarizing lens. This composite material approach allows the lens to achieve sufficient mechanical strength and clamping force while maintaining reduced thickness and weight, resolving the contradiction between lightweight design and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the thickness of the polarizing lens is increased to increase mechanical strength, then the clamping force is sufficient, but the weight of the sunglasses increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping forceVSAvoidweight of sunglasses
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the thickness parameters of the polarizing film layer (5-50 μm) and resin layer (0.5-1.5 mm) to achieve the desired clamping force while minimizing weight. By precisely controlling these dimensional parameters, the lens provides sufficient mechanical strength without excessive thickness, thus resolving the weight-strength trade-off.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Weight of moving object

If the thickness of the polarizing lens is reduced to decrease weight, then the weight is reduced, but the lens is prone to breakage from external forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of lensVSAvoiddurability and resistance to breakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The laminated structure combining polarizing film and resin layer provides both weight reduction and enhanced durability. The resin layer acts as a protective barrier that absorbs external forces and prevents breakage, while the overall thin design maintains lightweight characteristics, thus resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The resin layer in the composite structure serves as a pre-established protective cushion that absorbs and dissipates external forces before they can cause breakage to the polarizing film. This beforehand cushioning mechanism ensures the lens maintains reliability and resistance to breakage even at reduced thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Ease of manufacture

If polarizing film is punched and bent to form lens shape, then the lens is formed, but variation in optical properties occurs making stable production difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens formation processVSAvoidoptical properties consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs punching and bending operations on the polarizing film before lamination with the resin layer. By conducting these forming operations beforehand on the flat film, the subsequent lamination process preserves the formed shape and optical properties, reducing variation and enabling stable production of polarizing lenses with consistent optical characteristics.

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

The solution provides rimless sunglasses with a total weight of 10g or less, maintaining sufficient clamping force and mechanical strength, preventing lens and frame damage from external forces, and ensuring optical quality and chemical resistance.

Implementation Method 1

A polarizing lens is a lens in which a lens and a polarizing film are integrated, and has an effect of reducing bright reflected light and glare

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Implementation Method 2

a resin injection-molded layer formed by resin injection molding on a polarizing sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInjection molding:

Data Source

PatentEP3895869B1Thin polarizing lens
Publication Date: 2023.07.19 DAISERU MOKAN SANGYO CO LTD
  • EP3895869B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3895869B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3895869B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a thin and lightweight polarizing lens for use in lightweight sunglasses (in particular, rimless sunglasses) while maintaining the clamping force and mechanical strength of a temple part, and a manufacturing method therefor. The values of: the center thickness v of a polarizing lens A including an injection-molded layer 3 laminated on at least one surface of a polarizing sheet B, the injection-molded layer having a polyamide-based resin; and the flexural modulus of the injection-molded layer 3 are adjusted, thus the predetermined clamping force and mechanical strength of a temple part are obtained even in the case of sunglasses with the thin and lightweight polarizing lens.