Attachable Fastener Shield for Dog Harness Buckles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Buckles in dog harnesses, especially side-release buckles, cause skin irritation and hair entanglement issues due to rubbing and pinching, leading to discomfort and pain in dogs.
Innovation Solution
An attachable shield with a flat pad and loops is designed to fit over fasteners, providing protection by creating a barrier between the buckle and the dog's skin and preventing hair entanglement, and can be easily attached and detached from various types of fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a buckle is used as a fastener in a dog harness, then the harness can be securely fastened, but the buckle causes skin irritation and hair entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shield as an intermediary component between the buckle and the dog's body. The shield has a smooth outer surface that prevents direct contact between the buckle's sharp edges and the dog's skin, thereby eliminating skin irritation and hair entanglement while maintaining the buckle's fastening function
Solution Approach 2:
The shield is designed as a separate, detachable component that can be attached to the buckle. This segmentation allows the buckle to maintain its fastening reliability while the shield provides protective coverage, and the shield can be independently replaced or cleaned
2Ease of operation
If the strap is tightened to improve fit, then the harness fit improves, but the buckle rubbing against the body causes more friction and injury
Solution Approach 1:
The shield acts as a mediator that allows the strap to be tightened for better fit while preventing the buckle from directly contacting and irritating the dog's skin. The smooth surface of the shield reduces friction even when the strap is tight
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a shield is attached to the buckle, then protection against skin irritation is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is designed as a separate, detachable component that attaches to the buckle through simple loops and slots. This segmentation allows the protective function to be added without permanently complicating the buckle structure, and the shield can be independently manufactured and replaced
Solution Approach 2:
The shield is designed to be compatible with multiple types of buckles and fasteners through universal attachment mechanisms. The same shield design can protect different buckle types, reducing the need for multiple specialized components and simplifying the overall system
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, an attachable fastener shield includes a flat pad having a length and a width that are at least as long and at least as wide as dimensions of a particular fastener; and one or more loops, each loop being attached to the pad top surface at one or more pairs of points, each pair of points being separated by a horizontal distance that is smaller than the pad width. The attachable fastener shield is configured to be attached to the particular fastener by fitting the particular fastener under the one or more loops and above the top surface of the pad.