Quick Release Clip Male Component Wing Relocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick-release clips for wearable articles, such as bulletproof vests, face issues with structural integrity under stress, accidental detachment, increased weight and complexity, and high production costs due to the presence of engagement wings on the female component.
Innovation Solution
The design relocates the engagement wing to the male component, eliminating it from the female component, which enhances structural strength, reduces material usage, simplifies manufacturing, and allows for easier decoupling with a traction cord or manual action, using a snap engagement mechanism with a plate-like insert and containment channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the engagement wing is integrated into the female component to enable quick release, then the release function is achieved, but the structural continuity of the containment channel is interrupted, reducing mechanical strength and causing accidental detachment under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement wing is extracted from the female component and relocated to the male component. This removes the disturbing element (engagement wing) from the female component, restoring the structural continuity and mechanical strength of the containment channel while preserving the quick release function through the engagement tooth on the male component
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the engagement wing on the female component as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the arrangement by placing the engagement wing on the male component and the engagement tooth on the female component. This inversion resolves the structural weakness caused by the interruption of the containment channel while maintaining the quick release mechanism
2Strength
If rigid materials and high thicknesses are used to strengthen the female element, then mechanical strength is improved, but structural size and weight increase, and manoeuvring difficulties for release increase
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the engagement wing from the female component, the patent eliminates the need to reinforce the female element with additional material. The containment channel can be designed with optimal thickness for strength without the weight penalty of over-engineering, as the engagement wing is now located on the male component where it does not compromise the structural integrity of the female element
3Ease of operation
If the engagement wing is integrated into the female component, then quick release is enabled, but the geometric and structural complexity of the female component increases, requiring complex moulds and tooling
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement wing is removed from the female component, significantly simplifying its geometry and structure. The female component now consists primarily of the containment channel with the engagement tooth, which can be manufactured using simple injection moulding techniques without complex slides or nested cavities, reducing tooling complexity and production costs
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 configuration provides enhanced mechanical strength, reduces weight and production costs, simplifies the decoupling process, and maintains stability under torsional stresses while minimizing accidental detachment, thus improving safety and design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The male component further comprises an engagement wing joined to the attachment portion by means of an elastically deformable interconnection portion... The engagement wing has, at one end of it, an engagement tooth... configured to engage, by relative rotation between the male and female components, in a snap engagement manner, in an engagement seat arranged in the covering wall
Implementation Method 2
The engagement wing is joined to the respective attachment portion by means of an elastically deformable interconnection portion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
A quick-release clip, particularly for wearable articles (2) comprises a male component (3) carrying a plate-like insert (6) and a female component (4) having a containment channel (7) configured to accommodate the plate-like insert (6) along an insertion direction (Z). The male component (3) also comprises an engagement wing (12) extending near the plate-like insert (6) and carrying an engagement tooth (14) projecting towards the plate-like insert. The containment channel (7) is delimited by a covering wall (8) that has an engagement seat (15) configured to engage the engagement tooth (14).