Visor Support Pivot Mechanism With Threaded Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current face shield and visor support systems face issues with complex and difficult-to-manufacture adjustment mechanisms, loose components, and inadequate maintenance of desired positions, leading to assembly challenges and accidental disconnections.
Innovation Solution
A support system with an adjustable mechanism featuring a pivot member with threading and flanges that securely engages with a hub and collar, requiring significant force to disengage, ensuring stable positioning and easy reassembly, and includes a guide mechanism for axial alignment to prevent accidental disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional adjustment knobs are used in the support system, then the mechanism can provide adjustable positioning, but the knobs may become loose and disengage from the system
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: an extending pivot member with threading for position adjustment, flanges for retention, and a distinction between the adjustable component and the retaining structure. This segmentation allows the threading to provide adjustability while the flanges independently provide secure retention, preventing the entire mechanism from becoming loose.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot member with threading is nested within the support structure, with the threading engaging with corresponding threaded passages in the headwear system and frame. This nested arrangement ensures that the adjustable component remains contained within the overall structure, preventing disengagement while maintaining adjustability.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex adjustment mechanisms are used to maintain position, then positioning accuracy can be improved, but the mechanisms become difficult to manufacture and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism uses threading parameters (pitch, depth, and engagement length) to control positioning precision. By adjusting the threading parameters rather than adding complex mechanical elements, the system achieves precise position maintenance with a simple adjustable knob structure, reducing overall mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential positioning function from complex multi-component mechanisms and implements it through a single extending pivot member with threading. This extraction eliminates unnecessary intermediate components, simplifying both manufacturing and operation while maintaining the ability to maintain precise positions.
3Reliability
If adjustable mechanisms are made secure to prevent loosening, then reliability improves, but disassembly and reassembly become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism transitions between two dynamic states: a locked state where threading engagement provides secure connection stability, and an unlocked state where the adjustable knob can be easily rotated for disassembly and reassembly. This dynamic behavior allows the same mechanism to provide both high reliability during use and ease of repair during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces permanent mechanical fastening systems (such as welded or permanently bolted connections) with a threaded adjustment mechanism that provides equivalent connection stability through friction and geometric locking, while allowing non-destructive disassembly and reassembly through simple rotational motion.
4Ease of manufacture
If simple adjustment mechanisms are used, then ease of manufacture improves, but the mechanisms cannot provide smooth adjustment or adequate position maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The extending pivot member features a cylindrical geometry with threading that allows smooth rotational adjustment. The curved surface of the cylinder enables continuous rotational motion without binding, providing smooth adjustment while the threading maintains positional stability, all manufacturable with standard CNC machining operations.
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 a robust and reliable adjustment mechanism that maintains the face shield or visor's position securely, preventing accidental disconnection and simplifying reassembly, while allowing smooth adjustments and secure locking in place.
Implementation Method 1
The extending pivot member includes threading, and the adjustable mechanism includes cooperating threading via which the position of the adjustable mechanism may be adjusted
Implementation Method 2
The first flange and the second flange capture a portion of the first member and a portion of the second member therebetween, thereby maintaining the extending pivot member, the first member and the second in operative connection
Implementation Method 3
The adjustable mechanism is adapted to abut and apply force to the second member in a first state to compress the second member into abutting engagement with the first member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A support system (100) includes a headwear system (150) adapted to be worn on the head of a user, a frame (200) adapted to have a visor (400) attached thereto to shield at least a portion of the face of the user, a first member (310) attached to the headwear system, and a second member (220) attached to the frame. The second member is pivotable relative to the first member so that the frame is pivotable relative to the headwear system. The support system further includes an adjustable mechanism (360) adapted to abut and apply force to the second member in a first state to compress the second member into abutting engagement with the first member. The adjustable mechanism further has at least a second state in which the adjustable mechanism does not abut the first member. The support system further includes an extending pivot member (340) extending axially through a passage (312) in the first member and a passage (224) in the second member. The extending pivot member includes threading (348), and the adjustable mechanism includes cooperating threading (366) via which the position of the adjustable mechanism may be adjusted to place it in the first state or in the at least a second state. The extending pivot member includes a first flange (342) and a second flange (344), spaced from the first flange. The first flange and the second flange capture a portion of the first member and a portion of the second member therebetween, thereby maintaining the extending pivot member, the first member and the second in operative connection.