Deployable Touch Fastener Substrate Displacement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional touch fasteners face challenges with high material costs, packaging instability, and material distortion due to the need for individually bending fastening elements, which leads to handling issues and inefficient use of raw materials.
Innovation Solution
A deployable touch fastener design featuring a substrate with displaceable portions that deploy fastening elements through displacement, reducing the need for individual bending and improving handling and packaging efficiency, while using less material and allowing for flexible deployment patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional individually bending fastening elements is used, then deployment precision is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is divided into multiple displaceable portions that can be independently displaced to deploy different fastening elements. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple fastening elements, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and time while maintaining individual deployment precision through controlled displacement of each portion.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple fastening elements are formed integrally within a single substrate structure, merging their formation and deployment processes. By applying displacement to the substrate portions, multiple fastening elements are deployed simultaneously through a unified mechanism, significantly reducing manufacturing steps compared to individual bending operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional individually bending fastening elements is used, then each fastening element can be precisely deployed, but production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate portions are displaced in a systematic, periodic manner to deploy fastening elements in sequences or groups. This periodic displacement pattern enables rhythmic production flow, allowing multiple fastening elements to be deployed in organized batches rather than one-by-one, thereby improving production efficiency while maintaining precision through controlled periodic action.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement of substrate portions creates a continuous deployment action across multiple fastening elements. Rather than completing one fastening element deployment before starting the next, the continuous displacement of substrate portions enables simultaneous or overlapping deployment actions, maximizing productive utilization of the manufacturing process throughout.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional molded products are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but material consumption increases and packaging stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening elements are designed with dynamic deployability, transitioning from a compact stored state to an extended functional state through substrate displacement. This dynamic design allows the same material to provide both compact packaging (reducing material loss) and full functional deployment (maintaining manufacturing simplicity), eliminating the need for excessive material to maintain rigidity in packaged state.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the fastening elements change during deployment - transitioning from a compressed, low-volume configuration in the substrate to an extended, high-volume functional configuration. This parameter change enables the structure to achieve full functionality with less material, as the material is efficiently utilized only when needed, reducing overall material consumption compared to traditionally molded products that require material for both packaged and functional states.
4Productivity
If traditional molded products are used, then production is efficient, but handling and packaging stability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening elements are nested within the substrate structure in a compact configuration during packaging and handling. The displaceable substrate portions allow the fastening elements to be contained within the substrate's volume, creating a nested arrangement that provides packaging stability. When deployed, the elements extend outward to provide full functionality, maintaining both stable packaging and efficient production.
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 deployable touch fastener offers improved handling, stability, and packaging efficiency, reduces material consumption, and enhances engagement strength by twisting and shearing fastening elements during deployment, resulting in a more reliable and cost-effective solution compared to traditional molded products.
Implementation Method 1
a force and/or moment generated by the displacement causes the first fastening element to be deployed
Implementation Method 2
a force and/or moment generated by the displacement causes the first fastening element to be deployed
Implementation Method 3
When the first portion is displaced relative to the second portion... causes the first fastening element to be deployed
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments related to a touch fastener and its methods of manufacture and use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the touch fastener may include a substrate with a first portion and a second portion displaceable relative to the first portion. A first fastening element may be formed in the first portion. When the first portion is displaced relative to the second portion, a force and/or moment generated by the displacement may cause the first fastening element to be deployed.