US Patent 7441888 Eyeglass frame

Eyeglass frame hinges are replaced by flexures made of hyperelastic single-crystal shape memory alloy. These flexures exhibit more than 8 percent recoverable strain. Eyeglass frames with these flexures can be distorted repeatedly in ways that would destroy ordinary hinges, and recover without damage. Flexures may be incorporated in eyeglass frames in ways that make them attractive as fashion items, thus enhancing the value of a commodity consumer product.