ThinOptics FlashCard Case

An Ultra-Slim Case for ThinOptics Ultra-Slim Glasses. The “stash anywhere…go everywhere” reading glasses! Small enough to fit in your wallet, purse, pocket.

FlashCard Case is a design and engineering challenge of compactness that truly follows the the ThinOptics mantra of being ultra-thin. Many materials, treatments, constructions, mechanisms and assembly methods were considered before StudioRed quickly delivered this optimal and customizable design that is simple and intuitive to the user.

1. 1. Glasses Out for Use
   2. Open Case and Insert Glasses
   3. Ready to Travel

Initial concepts explored a variety of materials and finishes, mechanisms and stack-up geometry. Ultimately the concepts that utilized thin sheet-metal over an injection molded body, trumped the other material stack-up constructions.

FlashCard engineering was highly dependent on balancing the intended look and feel of a thin, sleek product, with the manufacturing realities based on material limitations. To make sure we produced a design that was manufacturable we worked early on with the plastics manufacturer to establish minimum wall thicknesses that would allow us to push the design as thin as possible. This back and forth provided a design that had the look and feel we required with full sign on of the manufacturer.

Huge effort was placed in achieving the desired opening force while still providing long latch life and hiding the latching mechanisms. The limited space made it necessary to balance a long latching arm to reduce strain, while still being thick enough to provide enough opening force. By changing arm geometry and latch angle we were able to achieve a feel that met all of our goals. Design validation was done using Finite Element Analysis and then confirmed and iterated through multiple physical prototypes.