Compact String Adjuster with Nested Bobbin and Segmented Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing string adjusters for wearable products like shoes, bags, and clothing are complex, large in size, and difficult to use, especially for aesthetic products, due to their intricate structures and numerous parts, making them inconvenient for everyday use and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A compact string adjuster design featuring a fixed unit with a rotating knob and bobbin mechanism, including a reference locking portion, anti-separator, and elastic extensions, allowing for easy winding and unwinding of strings with minimal parts, facilitating easy assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional string adjusters are used, then string tightening function is achieved, but device complexity increases and size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The string adjuster is divided into distinct functional modules: a housing unit, a rotation unit with knob and bobbin, and a string winding mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential components needed for string adjustment, removing unnecessary parts found in traditional adjusters. The core functionality is achieved through a minimal set of elements: housing, rotation unit, knob, and bobbin, reducing structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If traditional string adjusters are used, then string tightening function is achieved, but size becomes large making it difficult to apply to aesthetic products
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation unit with the bobbin is nested within the housing unit, with the bobbin positioned inside the housing cavity. This nested arrangement allows the string adjuster to occupy minimal space while maintaining all necessary functional components, making it suitable for aesthetic products where size matters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the spatial arrangement by utilizing vertical stacking and compact three-dimensional positioning of components. The housing provides a compact enclosure, and the rotation unit operates within this confined space, effectively using available volume in multiple dimensions to minimize overall footprint.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional string adjusters are used, then string tightening is possible, but assembly and maintenance become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The string adjuster is divided into distinct functional modules: a housing unit, a rotation unit with knob and bobbin, and a string winding mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, contains the rotation mechanism, guides the string path, and prevents over-winding through integrated stop features. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying assembly and maintenance.
4Ease of manufacture
If minimal parts are used, then assembly is simplified, but reliability may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The housing includes pre-designed string guides and alignment features that ensure proper positioning of the string and rotation components during assembly. These built-in guidance structures prevent misalignment and ensure reliable operation from the first use, compensating for the simplicity of the minimal-part design.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation unit features self-aligning components where the knob automatically positions the bobbin correctly through geometric constraints and fit tolerances. The housing provides self-guiding features that ensure proper assembly without requiring complex adjustment procedures, maintaining reliability while keeping the design simple.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a string adjuster that can adjust the length of a string by winding the string. A string adjuster of the present invention includes a fixed unit and a rotation unit, in which a knob of the rotation unit includes a first extension having a counter-anti-separator formed on the interior circumferential surface and preventing separation from a housing, a second extension having a winding determination protrusion formed on the interior circumferential surface and determining winding and releasing modes, and a spacing groove formed between the first extension and the second extension.