Eyeglasses Simplified Hinge for Tool-Free Temple Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The connection between the temple and the front of eyeglasses often requires small components like screws, bushings, or spot welds, which are cumbersome, require specialist assistance for assembly, prone to wear, and can affect the appearance and structural integrity of the eyeglasses.
Innovation Solution
A simplified hinge system where the temple is coupled to the front using an integrated retention and locking element, such as a spherical element, accommodated in a cavity of the eyeglasses, eliminating the need for screws, rivets, or adhesive bonding, and allowing user-friendly assembly without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional connection components (screws, bushings, rivets) are used to connect the temple to the front, then the connection is secure, but the assembly requires specialist opticians and multiple small components increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the retention element and locking element into a single integrated hinge component. The retention element features a spherical head that engages with a cavity in the front, while the locking element forms an integral part of the same component, eliminating the need for separate screws, bushings, or rivets. This integration maintains secure connection while reducing component count and assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is segmented into functional zones within a single component: a spherical retention head for engagement with the front cavity, a neck portion, and a locking element that extends into the temple. This segmentation allows each functional aspect to be optimized independently while maintaining overall integration.
2Strength
If spot welds are used to connect the temple to the front, then the connection is strong, but the surface becomes uneven and affects appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal welding process (spot welding) with a mechanical interference fit system. The spherical retention element is pressed into a cavity in the front, creating a strong mechanical connection without heat. This eliminates surface unevenness and aesthetic defects while maintaining connection strength through precise geometric engagement.
3Reliability
If traditional hinge components are used, then the connection is secure, but the assembly process is time-consuming and requires specialist tools
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is designed as a self-contained unit that requires no external tools for assembly. The retention element with spherical head and the locking element work together to create a tool-free connection process. The user can assemble the temple to the front by simply engaging the spherical head with the cavity and securing the locking element, eliminating the need for specialist opticians and assembly tools.
4Reliability
If the hinge is made robust to withstand stresses, then the connection is reliable, but the hinge dimensions increase and spoil the minimal appearance of the temple
Solution Approach 1:
The retention element features a spherical head that engages with a corresponding cavity in the front. This spherical geometry allows for compact engagement while distributing stresses efficiently. The curved spherical surface provides a small contact area that concentrates force effectively, enabling a robust connection without requiring large hinge dimensions, thus preserving the minimal temple appearance.
Data Source
AI summary
Eyeglasses with a simplified hinge, having a front of the eyeglasses and a pair of temples, with a cavity is defined in the front for accommodating a retention and locking element which is adapted to be engaged by a hook-shaped portion of one end of each one of the temples. The retention and locking element is adapted to be accommodated in the cavity of the front, when it is coupled to the hook-shaped end of the temple, in order to couple the temple to the front.