Band Clamp Latching Assembly With Fastener-Free Pivot Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing band clamps and latches, particularly in heavy-duty applications, face challenges with slow and laborious diameter adjustments and difficulty in manufacturing without compromising strength and integrity, especially in quick release mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A method of assembling a latching assembly that involves pivotally mounting a lever and latching part using loading slots and retainers to facilitate easy assembly and maintain structural integrity, allowing for quick diameter adjustments without splaying the lever's side members, and incorporating a pivot that ensures robustness and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a latching assembly is manufactured using traditional methods with mechanical fasteners, then the structural strength and integrity are maintained, but the assembly complexity increases and manufacturing time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional mechanical fasteners (screws, bolts, rivets) from the latching assembly construction. The mounting members are inserted directly into receiving spaces through inner sides, eliminating the need for separate fastening components and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining structural integrity through the direct insertion and retention mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting members are designed to be self-retaining within the receiving spaces. The retention mechanism is integrated into the receiving space structure itself, allowing the assembly to secure its components without external fasteners. The inner side reception and retention features create a self-contained assembly system that maintains strength while simplifying the overall device.
2Device complexity
If a latching assembly is manufactured without traditional mechanical fasteners, then the assembly complexity is reduced and manufacturing time is shortened, but the structural strength and integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving spaces are designed with specific local features on the inner sides that provide both reception and retention functions. The mounting members have corresponding local features that engage with these receiving space characteristics, creating localized strong connections without requiring overall complex assembly structures. This local optimization maintains structural integrity while simplifying the global assembly design.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using external fasteners to secure components from the outside, the patent inverts the approach by having mounting members inserted and retained from the inner sides of the receiving spaces. This inversion of the fastening direction allows the structure to maintain integrity through internal retention mechanisms rather than external fasteners, reducing assembly complexity while preserving strength.
3Ease of operation
If the lever side members are splayed apart during assembly, then the mounting members can be easily inserted, but the structural rigidity and strength of the lever are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional assembly approach by inserting mounting members through the inner sides of the receiving spaces rather than from the outer sides. This inversion eliminates the need to splay the lever side members apart during assembly, as the mounting members are received from the interior where they can be inserted without compromising the external rigidity and strength of the lever structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly approach transitions from a lateral insertion method (which would require splaying side members) to an interior-based insertion method. By changing the dimension of insertion from external lateral access to internal access through inner sides, the lever maintains its structural rigidity while still allowing easy assembly of mounting members through the receiving spaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of assembling a latching assembly (104) comprising providing a lever (103), pivotally mounting the lever, pivotally mounting a latching part to the lever (103) such that the latching assembly (104) is operable between unlatched and latched configurations, wherein the lever or latching part is so pivotally mounted by receiving at least part of first and second mounting members (127a, 127a', 127b, 127b') of a pivot (124b; 224b) in first and second receiving spaces (129a, 129a', 129b, 129b') in first and second side members (121, 121') of the lever (103) respectively, wherein at least one of the receiving spaces is a loading slot and wherein, in respect of at least one loading slot, the respective mounting member is located in a mounting position by movement of the mounting member relative to the loading slot such that the at least part of the mounting member, received in the loading slot, is moved at least part way along the length of the loading slot and, in respect of at least one loading slot, arranging a retainer (122, 122') with the respective mounting member such that the mounting member is substantially retained, in the length-wise direction of the slot, in the mounting position.