An article includes a hollow enclosure defining a void. The void has a first section and a second section separate from the first section. An electronic component is housed in the first section and the second section of the void. A low pressure mold material is molded into the first section of the void and cured around a first segment of the electronic component to encapsulate the first segment of the electronic component. A support seal is inserted into the second section of the void adjacent a second segment of the electronic component. The support seal defines a sealing barrier on one side of the low pressure mold material that limits the flow of low pressure mold material out of the first section of the void.

An apparatus and method for forming surface patterns on polymer articles made by additive manufacturing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a temporary surface softening station for the articles wherein vapors of a polymer softening substance are kept in contact with the surface of the articles for a prefixed time, and a pattern imprinting station for imprinting a pattern on the softened surface of the articles leaving the temporary surface softening station which includes means for pressure transferring the pattern on the article surface.

A process of overmolding a frame of a portable eyewear electronic device and a frame produced by the process is presented. A frame that includes a first material and includes a releasably mountable feature is attached to the mold in a desired position and does not contact other areas of the mold. The mold is filled with a second material to at least partially encase the frame insert.

Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an optical filter configured to attenuate visible light in certain spectral bands. At least some of the spectral bands can include spectral features that tend to substantially increase the colorfulness, clarity, and/or vividness of a scene. In certain embodiments, eyewear incorporates an optical filter that enhances chroma within one or more spectral bands. In some embodiments, a wearer of the eyewear can perceive the increase in chroma when viewing at least certain types of scenes.

A method of manufacturing a button-enabled housing assembly includes pre-forming a composite button component or insert having an elastically flexible button membrane that is mounted on a rigid frame, and thereafter molding a housing over the button insert. The composite button insert is formed in a co-molding operation and can include a rigid island in the flexible button membrane for supporting a cosmetic keycap.

Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an optical filter configured to attenuate visible light in certain spectral bands. At least some of the spectral bands can include spectral features that tend to substantially increase the colorfulness, clarity, and/or vividness of a scene. In certain embodiments, eyewear incorporates an optical filter that enhances chroma within one or more spectral bands. In some embodiments, a wearer of the eyewear can perceive the increase in chroma when viewing at least certain types of scenes.

A method of manufacturing a button-enabled housing assembly includes preforming a composite button component or insert having an elastically flexible button membrane that is mounted on a rigid frame, and thereafter molding a housing over the button insert. The composite button insert is formed in a co-molding operation and can include a rigid island in the flexible button membrane for supporting a cosmetic keycap.

An article includes a hollow enclosure defining a void. The void has a first section and a second section separate from the first section. An electronic component is housed in the first section and the second section of the void. A low pressure mold material is molded into the first section of the void and cured around a first segment of the electronic component to encapsulate the first segment of the electronic component. A support seal is inserted into the second section of the void adjacent a second segment of the electronic component. The support seal defines a sealing barrier on one side of the low pressure mold material that limits the flow of low pressure mold material out of the first section of the void.

The present invention generally concerns a one piece eyewear having concealed hinges made via 3D printing. More specifically, the invention includes a U-shaped hinge with irregular offsets that are blended parametric curves that connect a lens frame to temple bars. The hinge is most flexible at its parabolic cross section and allows the temple bars to open and close, mimicking the rotational and stress bearing properties of traditional mechanical hinges. The eyewear is sculpted in a 3D modeling program that exports digital instructions for rendering the hinges, lens frame, and temple bars as a single construct by a 3D printer. The one piece eyewear is capable of accepting prescription or non-prescription lenses. A method for making the eyewear having concealed hinges is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a spectacle frame adapted to a spectacle wearer, particularly by means of 3D printing or other additive manufacturing techniques. The present invention provides for this purpose a method comprising the steps of providing a virtual 3D model of a spectacle frame; providing a virtual 3D model of the head of the spectacle wearer which comprises at least a part of the head of the spectacle wearer which is in contact with the spectacle frame when the spectacle frame is being worn; positioning the 3D model of the spectacle frame relative to the 3D model of the head in a virtual environment so that the 3D model of the head intersects the 3D model of the spectacle frame where said part of the head of the spectacle wearer is in contact with the spectacle frame when the spectacle frame is being worn; cutting a portion out of the 3D model of the spectacle frame along the intersecting plane of the 3D model of the spectacle frame and the 3D model of the head; and manufacturing at least a part of the spectacle frame on the basis of the part of the 3D model of the spectacle frame from which the portion has been cut.