Side Release Buckle Guide Surface Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side release buckles with tapered guide surfaces tend to generate squeak noises and deformations due to excessive squeezing force, leading to incomplete engagement and difficulty in re-engagement.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates guide surfaces with a wider interval near the insertion opening and a narrower interval near the engaged portions, along with a reduced inclination angle for guiding portions, to minimize squeezing force and resistance, allowing engaging portions to slide smoothly and reducing deformation tendencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the guide surfaces are formed with a continuous tapered shape from the insertion opening to the engaged portions, then the engaging portions are guided smoothly into the housing space, but the engaging portions are squeezed excessively and rubbed against the guide surfaces over a long distance, generating squeak noise
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface is divided into two distinct sections: a guiding portion with a larger interval that provides smooth guidance with minimal squeezing, and a squeezing portion with a smaller interval that applies controlled squeezing force near the engaged portions. This segmentation allows the guiding function and squeezing function to be performed by different portions of the guide surface, reducing unnecessary rubbing and squeak noise during the insertion process.
2Reliability
If the interval between the guide surfaces is reduced to improve engaging performance, then the squeezing force is increased, but the engaging portions are rubbed against the guide surfaces more intensely, generating more squeak noise and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the guide surface are given different interval widths according to their specific functions. The guiding portion has a larger interval to minimize squeezing and rubbing, while the squeezing portion has a smaller interval to provide necessary engagement force. This local differentiation of geometric properties allows the system to achieve reliable engaging performance without excessive squeezing and deformation throughout the entire insertion path.
3Force
If the guide surfaces start squeezing the engaging portions near the insertion opening, then the engaging portions are squeezed continuously, but the resistance increases and the plug insertion may stop before complete engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface is segmented into a guiding portion with larger interval that allows easy insertion with minimal resistance, and a squeezing portion with smaller interval that provides strong squeezing force near the end of insertion. This segmentation ensures that the engaging portions can be inserted smoothly without excessive resistance, while still receiving sufficient squeezing force to achieve complete engagement with the engaged portions.
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
This design significantly reduces the likelihood of squeak noise generation and deformation, ensuring proper engagement and easy separation of the buckle, while maintaining structural integrity and reducing material usage.
Implementation Method 1
the engaging portions are rubbed against the guide surfaces over quite a long distance
Implementation Method 2
the plug and the socket each are integrally formed mainly of a synthetic resin material. Accordingly, while the legs are provided with a predetermined elasticity
Data Source
AI summary
A side release buckle includes: a plug; and a socket, the plug including: a base; a pair of legs; and engaging portions, the socket including: a body; an insertion opening; a housing space; engaged portions; and a pair of guide surfaces. The guide surfaces, which are formed on an inner surface of the housing space and extend in an insertion direction of the legs while being opposed to each other, each include: a squeezing portion formed continuously with corresponding one of the engaged portions; and a guiding portion formed between the squeezing portion and the insertion opening. An interval between the guiding portions-near the engaged portions is wider than an interval between the squeezing portions near the engaged portions. An inclination angle of each guiding portion to an insertion direction of the plug is smaller than an inclination angle of each of the squeezing portion to the insertion direction.