Spring-Loaded Buckle With Pull Ring For Cord Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buckles are often heavy and complex to manufacture, and attaching a cord to them is not straightforward, especially since they are designed for flat straps rather than cords.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece buckle assembly with spring-loaded components, where one buckle portion has a hook element and an actuation button connected by a spring, and the second buckle portion is a ring-shaped structure with bores that allow for secure attachment of a cord through a novel routing mechanism, enabling easy engagement and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional buckles are used, then they can securely attach straps, but they are heavy and complex to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The buckle is divided into two separate portions: a first buckle portion with a body and hook element, and a second buckle portion with a ring and opposing hook element. This segmentation allows each portion to be manufactured independently using simple processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining secure attachment functionality when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential functional elements (hooks and spring tension) from complex traditional buckle designs, creating a simplified structure that achieves secure attachment without the weight and complexity of conventional buckles. The spring-loaded mechanism is extracted as a separate functional component rather than an integrated complex structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional buckles are used, then they can attach straps, but attaching a cord is not simple
Solution Approach 1:
The second buckle portion is designed as a ring-shaped structure with multiple bores that can accommodate both strap attachment and cord attachment. The ring configuration with central aperture and radial bores provides universal functionality, allowing the same component to securely attach both flat straps and cords through simple threading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from flat, two-dimensional strap attachment to three-dimensional cord routing through the ring structure with multiple bores at different orientations. The radial arrangement of bores in three dimensions enables cord attachment while maintaining simplicity, allowing cords to be threaded through multiple openings rather than requiring complex fastening mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If spring-loaded components are used, then engagement and disengagement is easy, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded hook elements automatically engage and disengage based on the relative movement of the two buckle portions. When the portions are brought together, the spring tension automatically draws the hook elements into engagement without requiring additional actuators or complex mechanisms. The system serves itself through the inherent elastic properties of the spring.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism utilizes changes in elastic potential energy and mechanical force parameters to achieve easy engagement and disengagement. By adjusting spring tension and hook geometry, the system achieves reliable engagement without requiring complex control mechanisms, using purely mechanical parameter changes rather than electronic or hydraulic systems.
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 is lightweight, simple to manufacture, and securely attaches cords, allowing for easy attachment and detachment of objects, with the spring tension ensuring a secure lock without requiring excessive force.
Implementation Method 1
The actuation button is connected to the main body by a spring so that the actuation button can slide between an extended resting position and a compressed position by pressing the actuation button toward the rear end of the main body to compress the spring
Implementation Method 2
Releasing the actuation button causes the actuation button to slide back to the extended position by allowing the spring to return to its resting state
Data Source
AI summary
A pull ring for a buckle assembly that has a main body with a first hook element facing a rear end, and an actuation button. The actuation button is connected to the main body by a spring so that the actuation button can move between an extended resting position and a compressed position. The actuation button has a second hook element on a bottom surface and which faces the front end of the main body. The pull ring is connected to the main body and actuation button by fitting the pull ring around the first hook element, pressing the actuation button, pivoting the actuation button and main body until the second hook element is disposed within a central aperture of the pull ring, and releasing the actuation button so that the pull ring is retained in the hook elements under pressure by the spring.