Elastic Shoulder Strap System for Animal Harnesses
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dog harnesses, particularly Y-harnesses, cause undesirable loads on a dog's neck and joints due to rigid designs, leading to discomfort and potential injuries during walks, and fail to provide adequate elastic displacement to accommodate the animal's movement, resulting in HAVS-like issues for both the dog and the handler.
Innovation Solution
An elastic shoulder strap system integrated into the harness, featuring shoulder straps connected in a 'V' shape to a central element on the axis line, allowing independent movement within a beta angle range, and an elastic connecting portion that links with the back strap, enabling displacement in various directions to distribute forces more evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid harness design is used, then the harness provides structural stability and support, but it causes undesirable loads on the dog's neck and joints, leading to discomfort and potential injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing rigid harness components with elastic elements that can dynamically adapt to the dog's movements. The elastic shoulder straps and connecting portions allow the harness to flex and move with the dog's shoulders and neck, converting the static rigid structure into a dynamic system that absorbs movement forces rather than transmitting them directly to the dog's joints and neck.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the mechanical properties of the harness components from rigid to elastic. The elastic connecting portions and shoulder straps change the stiffness parameter of the harness system, allowing it to deform under load and return to its original shape, thereby reducing peak forces transmitted to the dog's body while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Shape
If a rigid harness design is used, then the harness maintains its shape and positioning, but it fails to provide adequate elastic displacement to accommodate the animal's movement, resulting in HAVS-like issues
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic components enable the harness to dynamically adjust its shape during movement while maintaining its overall structural form. The shoulder straps and connecting portions can elongate and contract, allowing the harness to accommodate the dog's shoulder movement and neck rotation without losing its fundamental Y-shape configuration or positioning on the dog's body.
3Adaptability or versatility
If elastic components are added to the harness, then the harness can accommodate animal movement better, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses elastic straps and connecting portions that function as flexible elements within the harness structure. These flexible components are integrated into the existing harness geometry, allowing movement accommodation through material elasticity rather than through complex mechanical joints or articulated structures, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 system reduces the risk of neck and joint strain by allowing the shoulder straps to adapt to the dog's movement, providing a comfortable and secure fit, thereby minimizing the risk of HAVS and enhancing the handling experience for both the dog and the handler.
Implementation Method 1
there is at least one connecting portion of elastic design on the side of the connecting element opposite to the shoulder straps, and the connecting portion elastically links the connecting element together with the lining of the back strap, whereby the connecting element and the shoulder straps are movable in the direction of both the vertical axis line and the axis line to the extent of the stretching of the connecting portion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The patent application relates to an elastic shoulder strap system (1) for animal harnesses (20), which is fixed to the back part (5) of the animal harness (20), to the lining (19) thereof, which lining (19) is lined at least partially by a neck lining (25), and two shoulder straps (9) are connected to a connecting element (8) located on the axis line (4), forming a "V" shape, in a manner that allows them to turn within a given angle range, sliding on the neck lining (25) together, simultaneously and independently of each other, separately, along a curve determined by the curve path of the connecting element (8). There is at least one connecting portion (7) of elastic design on the side of the connecting element (8) opposite to the shoulder straps (9), forming a structural unit with the connecting element (8) and the shoulder straps (9) to constitute the elastic shoulder strap system (1), which moves in the direction of both the vertical axis line (22) and the axis line (4) to the extent of the stretching of the connecting portion (7) of elastic design, and the shoulder straps (9) are capable of elastic displacement to different extents within an alpha angle range simultaneously, depending on the extent and direction of the stretching of the connecting portion (7) as a function of the direction and extent of the pulling or tugging forces acting through the leash connector (2).