Dual-Coupling Zipper Strap for Precise Sealing Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing zipper structures in disposable packaging products often malfunction due to inaccurate molding, leading to difficulty in sealing or opening, increased manufacturing costs, and complications from additional features like sound generation, making product development challenging.
Innovation Solution
A zipper strap structure with an internal coupling unit and external coupling unit, featuring alternating head portions of different heights and a central separation groove, ensuring precise coupling and intuitive operation through tactile and auditory feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a zipper is made of flexible plastic material with internal and external parts meshing, then the zipper can be sealed and opened, but inaccurate molding causes difficulty in sealing or opening
Solution Approach 1:
The zipper is divided into separate internal coupling units and external coupling units, each with specific coupling elements (protrusions and recesses) that work together. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each part's molding while ensuring precise fit through the coupling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling elements (protrusions and recesses) are designed with specific local geometries that provide precise engagement. The internal coupling unit has protrusions that fit into corresponding recesses of the external coupling unit, creating localized high-precision contact points that ensure reliable sealing and opening operations.
2Loss of information
If additional features like sound generation are added to the zipper, then user feedback is enhanced, but the structure becomes more complicated and malfunction risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The zipper structure itself generates sound feedback through the interaction of coupling elements during opening and closing operations. The protrusions and recesses are designed to create audible clicks or sounds when engaged or disengaged, eliminating the need for separate sound-generating components while providing intuitive user feedback.
3Ease of operation
If a slider is attached to forcibly open and close the zipper, then the zipper can be operated, but the structure becomes complicated and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional slider component is removed from the design. Instead, the zipper is operated by directly manipulating the coupling units themselves, which are integrated into the strap structure. This extraction of the slider simplifies the overall structure while maintaining operational functionality through the direct coupling mechanism.
4Ease of manufacture
If the zipper structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing costs, then production becomes more efficient, but molding accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The internal and external coupling units are designed to be molded as integral parts of their respective straps, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing steps and assembly operations. This merging of components into single molded pieces improves manufacturing efficiency while the coupling element design ensures adequate precision is maintained for proper function.
Data Source
AI summary
A zipper strap structure according to an embodiment includes a first strap, a second strap disposed side by side with the first strap, an internal coupling unit, and an external coupling unit. According to the invention, the internal and external coupling of the zipper strap structure is performed with very high accuracy and precision. In addition, when the zipper strap structure is operated, a user can intuitively recognize whether the zipper strap structure is opened or closed by senses of touch and hearing. Since a user can effectively seal contents by the internal and external coupling of the zipper strap structure and can clearly recognize an operation state of the zipper by senses of touch and hearing, the user does not have to perform repeated checking of whether or not a zipper is completely closed, unlike the related art.