Apparel Charm Clip with Rotating Hinged Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clothing and facemask accessories, such as clips and pins, are often uncomfortable, risky to wear, and fail to provide a decorative and aesthetically pleasing solution for enhancing the appearance of apparel without requiring frequent purchases of new items.

Innovation Solution

A fully adjustable charm clip with a clip mechanism featuring a hinged clip arm, torsional spring, and rotating circular member, which securely attaches to clothing via prong-like teeth, allowing for easy and safe attachment and reorientation without the need for pin-based structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If pin-based accessories are used to decorate clothing, then the decorative function is achieved, but the wearer may be injured if the pin opens inadvertently or is inserted through the clothing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecorative functionVSAvoidinjury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the harmful pin element from the accessory design while retaining the decorative function through clips and other non-penetrating attachment mechanisms. This extraction eliminates the injury risk associated with pins that can pierce through fabric and skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary attachment mechanisms (clips, snap fasteners, magnetic attachments) that mediate between the decorative accessory and the clothing, providing secure attachment without direct penetration or contact with the wearer's skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If standard clips and pins are used to enhance the look of clothing, then the decorative function is achieved, but they can be uncomfortable to wear and may injure the wearer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecorative enhancementVSAvoidcomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different material qualities to different parts of the accessory - using soft, comfortable materials in areas that contact the wearer's skin or clothing interior, while maintaining decorative aesthetics in visible areas. This local differentiation of material properties simultaneously achieves decoration and comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If individuals frequently buy new apparel and facemasks to change their looks, then the aesthetic variety is improved, but the cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic varietyVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates universal decorative accessories that can be attached to multiple different items of clothing and facemasks. A single decorative clip or accessory can be moved between various garments, providing aesthetic variety across multiple items without requiring separate decorative elements for each piece.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamically reconfigurable decorative accessories that can be easily attached, detached, and repositioned. This dynamic attachment capability allows users to change the appearance of different clothing items using the same set of accessories, providing versatility without permanent modification or multiple purchases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If conventional facemasks are used, then the protective function is provided, but they are plain, boring and lack decorative accessories

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective functionVSAvoidaesthetic appeal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protective function of the facemask with decorative accessories through non-invasive attachment methods. Clips and decorative elements are designed to attach to the exterior or interior non-structural parts of the mask, adding aesthetic appeal without interfering with the mask's protective filtering function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The charm clip provides a safe, convenient, and user-friendly way to enhance the appearance of clothing and facemasks, eliminating the need for frequent purchases and ensuring a fun, inspiring, and safe method to decorate apparel while avoiding potential injuries.

Implementation Method 1

the clip arm and one of the prongs are coupled using a torsional spring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorsional spring: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentUS11805866B2Apparel charm clip

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 ZEMAN KATHERINE

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a decorative charm for attachment to clothing and apparel items. The decorative charm comes in different unique and decorative designs, used for accentuating clothing. More specifically, the decorative charm features a decorative surface that is positioned outside an apparel item and is visually exposed. A clip mechanism is used for attaching the charm to a rim or edge of an apparel item, and includes prong-like teeth that are positioned on opposite sides of the apparel edge and are operated using a clip arm. The clip arm is rotatable and is configured to create a space between the prong-like teeth to attach to an apparel item.