Buckle Assembly With Retained Locking Legs and Inward Stop Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buckle designs fail to effectively prevent excessive outward flexing of locking legs while allowing counteraction of excess inward force, potentially leading to damage and instability.
Innovation Solution
A buckle assembly with a male and female portion, featuring locking legs connected by flexible retaining members and intermediate legs that provide a stop surface, preventing excessive outward flexing and sharing inward force to maintain stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible retaining members are used to prevent outward flexing of locking legs, then the locking legs are protected from excessive outward bending, but the structure becomes more complex and the central leg is affected by the motion of the side locking legs
Solution Approach 1:
The buckle is divided into functional segments: locking legs for engagement, flexible retaining members for outward flex control, and intermediate legs for force distribution. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Intermediate legs are introduced as intermediary elements between the locking legs and the central leg. These intermediate legs act as mediators that receive and distribute forces, preventing direct transmission of motion and force to the central leg, thus isolating it from the side locking leg motions.
2Ease of operation
If the locking legs are allowed to flex inward for release, then the buckle can be opened, but excess inward force can damage the locking legs
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible retaining members and intermediate legs are positioned and designed to provide protective support before the locking legs can be damaged by excessive inward force. This beforehand cushioning prevents damage by distributing the excess force across multiple components rather than allowing it to concentrate on the locking legs alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible retaining members are designed with specific flexibility parameters that allow controlled inward flexing for release while maintaining sufficient rigidity to prevent excessive bending. The intermediate legs are positioned to engage at specific force thresholds, changing the mechanical parameters of the system dynamically based on the applied force.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the central leg is used to provide stability, then the buckle assembly is more stable, but the central leg is affected by the motion of the side locking legs
Solution Approach 1:
Intermediate legs serve as intermediary elements that physically separate the central leg from the side locking legs. When side locking legs move during operation, the intermediate legs absorb and distribute these motions, preventing direct transmission to the central leg while maintaining overall buckle stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stability function is segmented from the central leg to the intermediate legs. The intermediate legs are specifically designed to provide stability support to the side locking legs without requiring the central leg to directly counteract their motions, thus protecting the central leg while maintaining assembly stability.
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 enhances the strength, stability, and durability of the buckle by limiting excessive bending in both directions, thereby protecting the buckle from damage and ensuring secure attachment.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible retaining members deform, producing minimal resistance to the inward flexing of the locking legs
Implementation Method 2
the intermediate legs provide support to the locking legs and share the force, forming a stop surface, and thus prevent the locking legs from bending beyond their breaking point
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A buckle assembly (1) formed of a male buckle portion (20) and a female buckle portion (10). The female buckle portion (10) has a top wall (11), a bottom wall (12), side walls (13,14), a cavity (15) between the top wall (11) and the bottom wall (12) and a locking slot (16,17) in each of the side walls (13,14). The male buckle portion (20) has a base (21), two locking legs (24,25), a center leg(28), and two intermediate legs (31,32) between the locking legs (24,25) and the center leg(28). The locking legs (24,25) extend through the locking slots (16,17) in the female portion (10), and locking pawls (26,27) at the end of the locking legs (24,25) engage the edges of the locking slots (16,17) to secure the buckle portions together. Each locking leg (24,25) is connected to a flexible retaining member (33,34) that prevents the locking legs (24,25) from being flexed outwardly beyond a predetermined point. The intermediate legs (31,32) and/or the retaining members (33,34) form stop surfaces that prevent the locking legs (24,25) from being flexed inwardly beyond a point of contact with the stop surfaces.