Buckle Assembly Nested Strap Design for Reliable Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional buckle assemblies for safety belts are complex, expensive to manufacture, and have reliability issues with operation and engagement, particularly in children's seat safety belts.
Innovation Solution
A buckle assembly design featuring shoulder-strap buckles with openings for waist-strap buckles, a release button with elastic members for secure engagement, and a structure allowing waist-straps to be inserted through shoulder-straps and into the buckle body, ensuring firm engagement and easy disengagement by actuating the release button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional buckle structures are used for safety belts, then engagement function is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buckle assembly is divided into distinct functional components: shoulder-strap buckles, waist-strap buckles, and a release button mechanism. Each component performs a specific function, allowing for simplified individual parts while maintaining overall system reliability through their coordinated interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoulder-strap buckles are positioned between the waist-strap buckles and the buckle body, creating a nested arrangement where the waist-strap buckles pass through the shoulder-strap buckles. This nesting reduces the overall structural complexity by eliminating the need for separate mounting mechanisms.
2Reliability
If conventional buckle structures are used, then engagement is achieved, but manufacturing and combination difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buckle assembly is divided into distinct functional components: shoulder-strap buckles, waist-strap buckles, and a release button mechanism. Each component performs a specific function, allowing for simplified individual parts while maintaining overall system reliability through their coordinated interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The release button serves multiple functions: it engages with the waist-strap buckles to secure them, and simultaneously acts as an actuator to release both the waist-strap and shoulder-strap buckles. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying manufacturing and assembly.
3Reliability
If waist-strap buckles are inserted through shoulder-strap buckles into the buckle body, then firm engagement is achieved, but the shoulder-strap buckles cannot depart freely
Solution Approach 1:
The release button acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls the engagement and disengagement of both waist-strap and shoulder-strap buckles. When pressed, it simultaneously releases both types of buckles, providing easy operation while maintaining firm engagement during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static engaged state to a dynamic release state when the release button is actuated. The elastic members store energy during engagement and release it during disengagement, enabling the shoulder-strap buckles to depart freely when needed while remaining firmly engaged during normal operation.
4Ease of operation
If a release button with elastic members is used, then easy disengagement is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The release button serves multiple functions: it engages with the waist-strap buckles to secure them, and simultaneously acts as an actuator to release both the waist-strap and shoulder-strap buckles. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall structure despite the added release capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The release button combines the engagement function with the disengagement actuation function into a single component. The elastic members are integrated into the release button structure, merging what could have been separate mechanisms into one unified device, thereby reducing overall structural complexity.
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 buckle assembly achieves a simple, cost-effective, and reliable connection and disconnection mechanism, ensuring secure engagement and easy operation while maintaining safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
the release button further comprising two elastic members for ejecting the waist-strap buckles respectively when the release button is pressed
Data Source
AI summary
A buckle assembly for connecting safety belts according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided. The buckle assembly includes a buckle body including two side openings; a release button disposed in the buckle body including an engaging portion; two shoulder-strap buckles each having an opening to allow the waist-strap buckles passing through; and two waist-strap buckles each having a prong portion; wherein each of the shoulder-strap buckles is respectively positioned between each of the waist-strap buckles and the buckle body and incapable of departing from the buckle body freely when the prong portion of the waist-strap buckle is received in each of the side openings of the buckle body and engaged with the engaging portion of the release button; and the shoulder-strap buckles are departed from the buckle body together with the waist-strap buckles when the release button is actuated.