Concealable Slide Fastener with Offset Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concealable slide fasteners require enhanced strength and stability, particularly in applications where external forces are applied, and existing designs may not efficiently balance these demands while maintaining concealment and manufacturing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a configuration of slide elements with a base, head, neck, top surface, facing surface, and shoulders, where the necks are optimized to transfer forces effectively, and tapes cover the facing and top surfaces of the elements, providing increased cross-sectional area and offset geometry to enhance stability and concealment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the geometry of slide elements is modified to increase stability and strength, then the strength and stability during use are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slide element is divided into distinct functional segments: a base portion for engagement, a neck portion for force transfer, and a head portion for structural support. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining manufacturability through standardized molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide element geometry extends into the vertical dimension with the head positioned above the base plane, creating an offset configuration that provides superior mechanical leverage and engagement stability without increasing the horizontal footprint or overall device complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the neck is optimized to transfer forces effectively, then the stability during operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The neck portion is designed with optimized dimensional parameters including a specific width, length, and thickness that balance force transfer efficiency with manufacturability. The parameters are selected to provide adequate strength while remaining compatible with standard injection molding tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide element is formed from a single molded piece of durable plastic material that provides both the structural integrity needed for force transfer and the manufacturing efficiency of one-step production, eliminating the need for assembly of multiple precision components.
3Ease of manufacture
If tapes cover the facing surface and top surface of slide elements, then concealment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first tape and second tape are combined to form a single continuous tape structure that covers both the facing surface and top surface of the engaged slide elements. This merging simplifies the overall construction by reducing the number of separate components while maintaining effective concealment.
Solution Approach 2:
The tape configuration serves multiple functions simultaneously: it conceals the slide elements from view, provides structural support for engagement, and maintains the aligned relationship between opposing slide elements during operation, eliminating the need for separate components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A slide fastener includes first and second rows of slide elements and first and second tapes secured with the respective rows of slide elements. The slide elements of the first row of slide elements are configured to engage with slide elements of the second row of slide elements and each slide element of the first and second rows includes a base, a head, a neck extending between the base and the head, a top surface, a facing surface, and one or more shoulders. A first vertical distance between a lowermost surface of the head and the first end of the first tape is greater than a second vertical distance between a lowermost surface of the base and the first end of the first tape.