Chest Strap Buckle Deflection for Harness Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chest strap arrangements in attachable safety harnesses lack adjustability, comfort, and effective force distribution during falls, and often result in slippage, which can compromise user safety and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A chest strap arrangement with buckles having varying cross-sectional thicknesses to deflect torso straps away from the torso, allowing independent adjustment and reducing slippage, featuring horizontal and vertical slots for secure attachment and adjustable length, and incorporating a D-ring member for enhanced strength and secure connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the chest strap is permanently attached to torso straps through stitching or buckles, then the attachment strength is improved, but the adjustability and ease of removal are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The chest strap is divided into two separate portions (first and second strap portions) that can be independently adjusted and removed. Each strap portion can be detached from its corresponding torso strap, allowing the user to remove only the chest strap while leaving the torso straps in place. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both secure attachment during use and easy removal when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The chest strap arrangement transitions from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic configurable attachment. The engagement hardware allows the strap to be easily engaged and disengaged, transforming the attachment state from fixed to movable. This enables the system to adapt between secure attachment during operation and easy removal when needed, resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If slider buckles are used for adjustment, then the ease of adjustment is improved, but the attachment reliability is worsened because slider buckles do not serve to attach the chest strap to torso straps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the adjustment function and attachment function into a single integrated buckle mechanism. The buckle both adjusts the length of the strap and securely attaches the chest strap to the torso strap. This eliminates the need for separate slider buckles that only adjust but don't attach, thereby combining both functions reliably in one component.
Solution Approach 2:
The buckle is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both an adjustment mechanism and an attachment mechanism. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for separate components, making the single buckle both adjustable and reliable for attachment.
3Ease of operation
If the chest strap arrangement is in two parts with engagement hardware, then the ease of donning and removal is improved, but the device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The chest strap is segmented into two separate strap portions that can be independently attached and removed. This segmentation allows easy donning and removal of the chest strap portion without affecting the torso straps, while keeping the overall system relatively simple through modular design.
4Ease of operation
If buckles with varying cross-sectional thicknesses are used to deflect torso straps, then the force distribution and comfort are improved, but the manufacturing complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The buckle is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional thickness, where different portions of the buckle have different thicknesses to create specific deflection characteristics. This local variation in geometry allows the buckle to deflect torso straps away from the user's body in specific areas, improving comfort and force distribution during falls, while the overall manufacturing process remains relatively simple.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4(b)
Figure 5~8(b)
AI summary
A chest strap arrangement for an attachable arrangement removably attachable to a user and having a first torso strap and a second torso strap. The chest strap arrangement includes: a strap member with a first portion and a second portion; a first buckle having at least one substantially horizontal slot through which the first torso strap extends; and a second buckle having at least one substantially horizontal slot through which the second torso strap extends. In one embodiment, the cross sectional thickness of at least a portion of an outer end area of a buckle is greater than the cross sectional thickness of at least a portion of an inner end area of the buckle.