Bottom End Stop for Slide Fastener with Deformable Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bottom end stops for slide fasteners are prone to cracking and lack a plane surface for decoration, and their attachment to fastener tapes is not resistant enough, especially in the longitudinal direction, leading to potential disengagement of teeth under intense use.

Innovation Solution

A bottom end stop design featuring a plate member with deformable arm portions that form accommodating spaces for the fastener tapes, allowing for expansion and deeper penetration, and a flat surface for decoration, with bridge portions connecting the arm ends to create windows for secure clamping and reduce cracking risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional bottom end stops are pressed to clamp fastener tapes, then attachment is achieved, but cracks occur and no plane surface remains for decoration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidplane surface for decoration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom end stop is divided into a body portion and multiple leg portions (first and second leg portions on each side). This segmentation allows the leg portions to deform independently during clamping while the body portion maintains a rigid plane surface for decoration, resolving the contradiction between achieving strong attachment and preserving a decorative surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the bottom end stop have different mechanical properties: the body portion maintains rigidity to provide a plane surface for decoration, while the leg portions are designed to be deformable to achieve strong clamping attachment. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between structural integrity for decoration and deformability for attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If single leg portions are used to clamp fastener tapes, then结构简单性 is maintained, but attachment resistance in longitudinal direction is insufficient causing slipping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidattachment resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each side of the bottom end stop has multiple leg portions (first and second leg portions) instead of a single leg portion. This segmentation increases the number of contact points with the fastener tapes, thereby improving attachment resistance in the longitudinal direction and preventing slipping, while still maintaining relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second leg portions on each side work together in combination to provide enhanced clamping force and attachment resistance. By merging multiple leg portions on each side, the structure achieves superior attachment reliability compared to single leg portions, while the entire assembly remains a unified simple component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Duration of action of moving object

If intense use occurs with conventional end stops, then fastener operation is maintained, but attachment fails leading to disengagement of teeth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastener operation durationVSAvoidattachment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple leg portions distribute the mechanical stress from intense use across multiple contact points rather than concentrating it at a single point. This stress distribution prevents attachment failure during intense use, maintaining fastener operation duration and preventing tooth disengagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The deformable leg portions act as cushioning elements that absorb impact forces during intense use, such as when the fastener is opened quickly. This beforehand cushioning prevents the attachment from failing under impact loads, thereby maintaining attachment reliability and preventing tooth disengagement during intense use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 design provides a more secure and adaptive attachment to fastener tapes, reducing the risk of cracking and allowing for deeper penetration, thus maintaining engagement between teeth and enabling decoration on the surface.

Implementation Method 1

deformable arm portions arranged to form a left and right accommodating portions for side edges of fastener tapes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2363035B1Bottom end stop for a slide fastener

Publication Date: 2013.01.02 RIRI SA

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AI summary

A bottom end stop (1) for a slide fastener, comprising a plate member (2) and deformable arm portions (4a, 4b, 4c; 5a, 5b, 5c), arranged to form accommodating portions (3) for side edges of fastener tapes of a slide fastener; the arm portions have a proximal end (18) connected to the plate member (2), and a distal end facing a side part (2a, 2b) of the plate member; a plurality of left arm portions (4a, 4b, 4c) and a plurality of right arm portions (5a, 5b, 5c) are arranged along the left and right sides of the bottom end stop (1).