Bicycle Strap Buckle Prong Notch Anti-Slip Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bicycle securing straps fail to provide reliable and glove-friendly tensioning and secure attachment to bicycle frames while minimizing projections that could interfere with the rider's motion or clothing, especially during off-road cycling.

Innovation Solution

A securing strap with a buckle featuring a prong and slot mechanism, where the prong has a concave notch for secure engagement with holes on the strap, allowing for easy tensioning and secure attachment to bicycle frames with minimal projection, designed to accommodate gloved hands and reduce interference with the rider's motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional buckle with prong and hole engagement is used, then the strap can be tensioned and secured, but the projection from the buckle interferes with the rider's motion and clothing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrapping operationVSAvoidinterference with rider motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful projecting portion (the tip of the prong) is removed from the buckle structure. Instead of having the prong extend beyond the buckle body, the prong is contained within the buckle housing, eliminating the projection that causes interference with rider motion while preserving the engagement function with the holes in the strap

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The prong is nested within the buckle body, with the engaging tip of the prong positioned inside the buckle housing rather than protruding outward. This nesting arrangement allows the buckle to maintain its securing function while minimizing its external projection, thus resolving the conflict between operational effectiveness and rider comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If the strap uses a simple buckle design, then manufacturing is easier, but the strap cannot be reliably tensioned and secured with gloved hands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuckle manufacturingVSAvoidsecuring reliability with gloves

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inner surface of the buckle housing is given a specific textured or patterned finish in the local region where the rider's fingers interact with the buckle. This localized surface treatment provides enhanced grip for gloved hands during the strapping operation, while the rest of the buckle maintains its simple manufactured structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary mechanism is introduced between the rider's gloved hand and the strap tensioning process. This may include features such as ridges, grooves, or textured surfaces on the buckle that act as intermediaries to transmit force effectively from the gloved hand to the strap, ensuring reliable tensioning despite the barrier of gloves

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the prong projects outward from the buckle, then the hole engagement is simple, but the projection causes contact with rider's clothing and skin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuckle structureVSAvoidabrasion to rider's clothing or skin

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful projecting portion (the tip of the prong) is removed from the buckle structure. Instead of having the prong extend beyond the buckle body, theprong is contained within the buckle housing, eliminating the projection that causes interference with rider motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harm of the prong projection is converted into a benefit by using the prong's engagement with the hole to create a secure connection that prevents the strap from loosening. The prong's sharp edge, which could potentially cause abrasion, is instead used effectively to firmly engage with the hole material, creating a reliable mechanical interlock that benefits from the same geometric sharpness that would otherwise be harmful

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 strap ensures reliable and secure attachment of accessories to bicycle frames, preventing slippage and interference with the rider's motion, while being easily manipulable even with gloved hands, thus enhancing safety and comfort during cycling.

Implementation Method 1

a band of resiliently extensible material having a head end, a tail end, and at least one hole between the ends

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20230331330A1Securing strap

Publication Date: 2023.10.19 TAILFIN LTD

AI summary

A strap, for example for securing an accessory to a frame tube of a bicycle, comprises a band 2 of a resiliently extensible material which is provided with a buckle 8. The buckle 8 has an opening 14 through which a tail end 6 of the band 2 can be passed. An outer bar 17 of the buckle 8 defines an edge of the opening 14. A prong 18 is fixed to the outer bar 17, and can be engaged with any one of a series of holes 10 in the band 2 when the band is flexed over the outer bar 17 and pulled taut. The prong 18 has a contact surface 26 which is profiled to define a notch 34, 38 which serves to inhibit accidental slippage of the band 2 from the prong 18.