You probably have noticed that glasses always break at the same point: the hinges. To avoid breaking the spectacle frames, we need a system that reduced tension when pulling the temples, a solution not yet explored and developed in this market.

MagLeg is an innovative breakaway system using embedded magnets in the frame that allows unrestricted movement of the leg and thus eliminates stress. The magnetic strength can be controlled to ensure a balance between a secure fit of the glasses (i.e., the pressure against the user’s temples) and the breaking point of the plastic material.

read the full article on www.sapetti.com

The concept to create sustainable spectacles was based on creating a long- lasting and easily fixable product. Embedding magnets in the leg of the frame reduced strain on parts prone to breaking, and therefore extending its realistic lifetime.

An additional small magnet, placed at the centre of the leg, holds the legs together and helps to keep the glasses in a closed state.

The opposite polarity of the magnets on each leg ensures the user doesn’t attach the legs on the wrong sides. A curved connection automatically maintains the leg upright and locks it in a unique position for a stable and snug fit. The frames and legs come in several creative colour combinations, which can be mixed and matched for different styles.

Before we began designing, we deep-dived into the world of eyewear to understand the status quo of the market, already available solutions and their limitations. We spoke with various manufacturers to understand the technical challenges they face internally. We also interviewed groups of people to determine what features these end-users look for. By taking a hands-on approach, we were able to develop our unique idea into an optimal and desirable product.

“We noticed a gap in the glasses industry. This magnetic glasses were developed to address the lack of lasting glasses that also offer stylish design and human comfort. We used our experience from other segments like backpacks and industry-machines to come up with this innovative solution.”

The 3D prototypes were tested on four different types of 3D scanned heads, belonging to the 80th percentile of the population. At each stage of the process, the 3D prototypes were tested over 5 days by 2 individuals to guarantee the best solutions were chosen. Using several rounds of 3D printed iterations to refine the concept, we finally delivered the end product fit for our daily lives.