Belt Buckle Pivoting Blocking Position Prevents Unintentional Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belt buckles face the risk of unintentional unlocking due to inadvertent operation, which can be dangerous, especially in applications where user safety depends on the buckle's error-free functioning, and the addition of counter-latches complicates the construction and operation.
Innovation Solution
The belt buckle design incorporates a mechanism where the buckle parts can pivot from a neutral position to a blocking position, automatically locking the device and preventing unintentional separation, eliminating the need for additional counter-latches by ensuring the buckle parts must be intentionally moved to a neutral position for unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If counter-latches are added to prevent unintentional unlocking, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buckle parts automatically pivot into the blocking position due to the natural tension and configuration of the belts themselves. The belts ensure during actual use that the buckle parts are pivoted from the neutral position into the blocking position, making the blocking function self-activating without additional components
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking function is integrated into the existing locking device and buckle part structure. The locking device blocks itself in the locking position when the buckle parts are in the blocking position, combining the locking and blocking functions into a single integrated mechanism rather than adding separate counter-latch components
2Reliability
If counter-latches are added to prevent unintentional unlocking, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically blocks itself through the natural pivoting of buckle parts caused by belt tension. The blocking position is achieved automatically during normal use without requiring the user to manually activate any blocking mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding a mechanism to actively prevent unlocking, the invention inverts the approach by creating a blocking position that passively engages through normal belt tension and pivoting, making the blocking function occur naturally rather than requiring active intervention
Data Source
AI summary
Belt buckle for releasable connection of a belt to another belt or object. The belt buckle has a male buckle part with a plug-in extension and a female buckle part with a receptacle, and a locking device. The plug-in extension of the male buckle part is insertable into the receptacle of the female buckle part and the buckle parts are lockable to each other in a locking state by the locking device. In the locking state, the buckle parts are arrangeable relative to each other in a neutral position, in which the locking device can be brought into an unlocking position to separate the buckle parts. The buckle parts are additionally arrangeable relative to each other in a blocking position, pivoted in relation to the neutral position, in which the locking device is blocked in a locking position to prevent the buckle parts from being separated from each other.