Angled Cloth Holder with Integrated Velcro Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cloth holders for headscarves and other headgear are prone to detachment, are not discreet or comfortable to wear due to their thickness, and lack intuitive use and secure holding mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A cloth holder design featuring a hair connecting element and a cloth connecting element with specific angle orientations and a base member, allowing for secure attachment and easy handling, with metastable states enabled by a flexible base element and tensioned webs for stable holding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple layers (hair clip, connecting elements, small plates, Velcro) are used to securely hold headgear, then the holding reliability is improved, but the device thickness increases making it neither discreet nor comfortable to wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding reliabilityVSAvoiddevice thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the hair clip and the plate with Velcro surface into a single integrated unit. The plate is directly attached to the hair clip body, eliminating the need for separate connecting elements. This merging reduces the number of layers from four to two, thereby reducing overall thickness while maintaining the secure holding function through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a holder is firmly attached to headgear at fixed points, then the holding reliability is improved, but the adaptability to different types of headgear deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability to different headgear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the plate with a Velcro surface that can adhere to various materials and textures. This Velcro attachment mechanism provides universal applicability across different types of headgear (headscarves, kippas, hats, etc.) while maintaining firm attachment at fixed points. The same structure serves multiple functions: securing different headgear types and providing stable anchoring points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a thick multi-layer holder is used to securely hold headgear, then the holding reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of intuitiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding reliabilityVSAvoidintuitiveness of use
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the Velcro attachment function from a separate component and integrates it directly into the plate structure. This simplifies the overall device to essentially two main components (hair clip and plate), making the operation more intuitive. Users can easily understand how to attach and detach headgear without navigating through multiple separate elements and connecting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3701828B1Effective cloth holder
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 WEIST JENNIFER
  • EP3701828B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3701828B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3701828B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cloth holder, i.e. a holder with which a cloth, for example a headscarf, can be held on the head.In particular, the invention relates to a scarf holder (10) that can be used to fix a scarf to the hair, comprising a hair-fastening element (12) and a scarf-fastening element (14), wherein the hair-fastening element (12) has a receiving position in which hair can be fed in from a first receiving direction, and the hair-fastening element (12) can be moved into a closed position in which the hair is held by the hair-fastening element (12), and wherein the scarf-fastening element (14) has a receiving position in which the scarf can be fed in from a second receiving direction, and the scarf-fastening element (14) can be moved into a closed position in which the scarf is held by the scarf-fastening element (14), characterized in that the second receiving direction forms an obtuse or straight angle with the first receiving direction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for fixing a scarf.