Board Sports Coupling Assemblies with Interlink Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling assemblies for board sports fail to simultaneously release both feet reliably when excessive forces are applied, are prone to malfunction in salt and sand water, are bulky or heavy, and complicate reconnection underwater, compromising safety and control.
Innovation Solution
A set of coupling assemblies featuring pivotable locking arms with interlink mechanisms that allow one boot to pull the other into release, designed to be compact, lightweight, and resistant to salt and sand, with a leaf spring force release mechanism ensuring secure attachment and easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coupling assemblies use complex locking mechanisms to ensure secure attachment, then reliability of attachment is improved, but device complexity increases and resistance to sand and salt water deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly is divided into separate functional components: a locking arm for securing the boot, a release arm for disengagement, and an interlink mechanism connecting both feet. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability through specialized function distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
An interlink mechanism acts as an intermediary between the two coupling assemblies, transmitting release forces from one foot to the other. This intermediary component enables coordinated release of both feet simultaneously without requiring complex independent control systems for each coupling.
2Strength
If coupling assemblies are made bulky to ensure secure locking, then strength of attachment is improved, but weight increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly employs dynamic arms that can pivot and rotate during operation. The locking arm rotates into position to secure the boot, while the release arm dynamically responds to pull forces. This dynamic design allows the mechanism to adapt to user movements and positioning challenges, improving ease of operation while maintaining attachment strength through controlled mechanical motion.
3Ease of operation
If coupling assemblies use spring-based locking mechanisms, then ease of release is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to sand ingress and spring deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The spring component is extracted and replaced with a direct mechanical pull-release mechanism. Instead of relying on spring tension that can deteriorate or allow sand ingress, the system uses a straightforward pull-on-the-boot mechanism that directly actuates the release arm. This extraction of the spring element eliminates the reliability issues associated with spring deterioration and sand contamination while maintaining ease of release through simple mechanical advantage.
4Strength
If coupling assemblies are designed for secure locking, then strength of attachment is improved, but coupled release reliability deteriorates when one boot releases first
Solution Approach 1:
The interlink mechanism provides mechanical feedback between the two coupling assemblies. When one boot is released, the resulting motion is transmitted through the interlink to the other coupling assembly, automatically initiating its release sequence. This feedback mechanism ensures coordinated release of both feet simultaneously, preventing the unsafe condition where one foot remains attached while the other is released.
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
The solution provides a direct, robust, and safer coupled release of both boots, maintaining board control and flexibility while resisting environmental interference, ensuring user safety and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
each inner receiving unit comprises a locking arm which is pivotable about a main inner pivot axis from a locked position to a released position and vice versa
Implementation Method 2
the pull mechanism is configured to transfer the pull force and the pull distance to the at least one elongate interlink member, and to convert the pull distance in an interlink pull distance of the elongate interlink member
Implementation Method 3
A set of coupling assemblies featuring pivotable locking arms with interlink mechanisms that allow one boot to pull the other into release, designed to be compact, lightweight, and resistant to salt and sand, with a leaf spring force release mechanism ensuring secure attachment and easy operation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a set of coupling assemblies comprising a right coupling assembly and a left coupling assembly being configured to be mounted on aboard for board sports and to receive respectively a right boot and a left boot, wherein the right and left coupling assembly comprise an inner receiving unit and outer receiving unit, wherein each inner receiving unit comprises a locking arm which is pivotable about a main inner pivot axis from a locked position to a released position and vice versa, wherein each inner receiving unit comprises a pull mechanism comprising:—at least one elongate interlink member which extends between the two inner receiving units, and—a link pull member configured to engage the boot or the inner boot coupling part and to receive a pull force from the boot or boot coupling part when the boot or boot coupling part is no longer held by the coupling assembly and moves away from the coupling assembly, and to be pulled over a pull distance by said boot or by the boot coupling part, wherein the pull mechanism is configured to transfer the pull force and the pull distance to the at least one elongate interlink member, and to convert the pull distance in an interlink pull distance of the elongate interlink member, and wherein said interlink pull distance pivots the locking arm of the other coupling assembly from the locking position to the released position, thereby releasing the other boot.