Convoluted Capture Slot Retainer for Flexible Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices fail to provide a secure and easy mounting and dismounting mechanism for elongate flexible elements without requiring the elements to be threaded through openings, which can be cumbersome, especially for long or bundled elements.
Innovation Solution
A retainer device with a perimeter wall and a convoluted capture slot that requires the flexible element to form bends to enter and exit, enhancing retention and allowing for easy manipulation and secure mounting without the need for precise sizing or threading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flexible element is threaded through openings in existing devices, then the elements can be retained on the device, but the mounting and dismounting process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The capture slot is divided into multiple segments including a first slot portion, second slot portion, and third slot portion with different orientations. This segmentation allows the flexible element to be guided through the slot in a controlled manner, enabling easy insertion while preventing easy removal, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the element to pass through openings from one side to the other (traditional approach), the capture slot is designed to receive the element at one end and lock it in place through the convoluted path. This inverted approach makes insertion easy while making removal difficult without proper manipulation, addressing both ease of operation and time consumption.
2Reliability
If traditional retention mechanisms are used, then elements can be held in place, but secure retention without threading through openings is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The capture slot follows a convoluted curved path rather than a straight line. The element must follow this curved path to be retained, which provides secure retention while still allowing relatively easy insertion by guiding the element along the curve. The curvature creates a natural locking effect without requiring threading through multiple openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture slot has an asymmetric design with slot edges of different lengths and orientations (first slot portion substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis, second slot portion substantially parallel, third slot portion at an angle). This asymmetry creates a one-way insertion path that is easy to follow but difficult to reverse without proper manipulation, achieving both secure retention and ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If precise sizing is required for retention devices, then secure fit can be achieved, but the device cannot accommodate various sizes and bundles of elements
Solution Approach 1:
The capture slot is designed with dimensions and geometry that can accommodate multiple types of flexible elements including individual elements, bundles of elements, and elements of varying sizes. The convoluted path and appropriate width allow the slot to function universally for different element configurations without requiring precise sizing matches, thus achieving adaptability without sacrificing retention effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer for retaining an elongate flexible element on a support and comprising a perimeter wall defining an interior, with the perimeter wall having opposite ends each having end edges defining end openings. A capture slot extends between the opposite ends of the perimeter wall. The capture slot is defined by a pair of slot edges on the perimeter wall, and the slot edges extend from a first one of the end edges to a second one of the end edges. The capture slot extends along a convoluted path between the opposite ends that requires forming at least one bend in the flexible element to move the element through the capture slot and into the interior of the perimeter wall.