Anti-Pinch Buckle With Offset Standoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing snap buckle systems for apparel, such as helmets, pose a risk of pinching the user's skin or tissue during operation due to the potential for inadvertent compression between buckle portions and the need for user interaction with latch or catch mechanisms, and existing solutions like guide portions and guards often exacerbate discomfort or fail to mitigate pinching effectively.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a male and female buckle portion with an offset or standoff that maintains spacing between the buckle assembly and the user's skin, featuring a spring tab connected by a living hinge and a catch that deflects to secure engagement, along with a projection to create a gap between the buckle portions and the wearer, reducing the risk of pinching and discomfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional snap buckle designs are used with sliding buckle portions and latch mechanisms, then the buckle can be easily operated and securely fastened, but the user's skin is at risk of being pinched between the buckle portions or between fingers and the latch/catch mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidskin pinching risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The buckle assembly is divided into separate male and female portions that connect through a sliding mechanism, allowing the components to be segmented in a way that reduces skin pinching risks while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A latch mechanism acts as an intermediary between the male and female buckle portions, providing secure fastening while reducing the direct interaction between user fingers and the buckle components, thereby minimizing pinching risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If guide portions are added to extend from the buckle portions to provide overlapping arrangement, then the pinching potential during longitudinal translation is reduced, but the device complexity and footprint increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepinching potentialVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide portions are segmented and integrated into the existing buckle structure rather than added as separate components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the pinching protection function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide portions are merged with the male and female buckle portions, combining multiple functions into a single integrated structure that reduces complexity while providing both guidance and pinching protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If flexible guards or shields are added to protect against pinching, then skin protection is improved, but the guards are susceptible to slippage and may cause pinching between fingers and the guard itself

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin protectionVSAvoidguard stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Thin film guard portions are used to provide skin protection while maintaining flexibility and comfort, reducing the risk of pinching compared to rigid guards while preventing slippage through proper integration into the buckle structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Object-affected harmful factors

If rigid guard structures are added to mitigate pinching, then skin protection is improved, but wearer cooling and comfort are reduced due to increased contact area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin protectionVSAvoidwearer cooling

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Thin film guard portions provide skin protection with minimal contact area, allowing wearer cooling through perspiration to continue effectively while still protecting against pinching hazards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 effectively reduces the risk of pinching and discomfort by maintaining a gap between the buckle assembly and the user's skin, allowing convenient operation while minimizing contact and irritation, making it suitable for athletic and work-related activities.

Implementation Method 1

a spring tab or other latch mechanism commonly snap fittingly cooperates with a catch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A spring tab is connected to the second body by a living hinge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic Recovery: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentUS9629410B2Anti-pinch apparel closure

Publication Date: 2017.04.25 TREK BICYCLE CORPORATION

AI summary

A buckle closure assembly having a male part and a female part that snap-fittingly cooperate with one another. The male part and the female part selectively interact with one another along an operating direction to connect and disconnect alternate portions of a strap system. One or both of the male part and the female part include an offset or a standoff that extends from the respective part in a crossing direction relative to the operating direction to maintain a spacing between the buckle assembly and adjacent anatomy and/or clothing.