Elastomer Shoulder Pad Closure for Slip-Resistant Carrying Straps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shoulder pads and anti-slip strips for carrying straps provide inadequate friction and are prone to wear, limiting their effectiveness in preventing slippage, and are often limited to standard widths, necessitating additional fasteners that can fail under load.

Innovation Solution

A customizable shoulder pad with a multi-layered padding body made of elastomer, featuring a detachable closure system with guide sections and a closure strip, allowing easy attachment and adjustment to various strap widths, ensuring high adhesion and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional shoulder pads made of fabric, leather or plastics are used, then the shoulder pad can be attached to the carrying strap, but the friction between the shoulder pad and the clothing is too low providing only inadequate relief

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslip resistanceVSAvoidlow friction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from conventional fabric, leather or plastics to elastomer material, which fundamentally alters the friction characteristics. The elastomer material provides significantly higher friction coefficients, enabling the shoulder pad to effectively prevent slipping while maintaining comfort and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If self-adhesive anti-slip strips are applied to the underside of the shoulder straps, then slipping can be prevented, but the adhesive bond between the anti-slip strip and the shoulder strap can weaken over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-slip performanceVSAvoidadhesive bond durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the adhesive component from the system. Instead of using self-adhesive anti-slip strips that rely on chemical bonding, the invention uses a mechanical friction-based elastomer shoulder pad that attaches through physical friction and pressure, removing the source of adhesive degradation over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastomer shoulder pad is designed as a durable, replaceable component that can be easily attached and detached. If the shoulder pad becomes worn or contaminated, it can be removed and replaced without affecting the carrying strap, effectively treating the shoulder pad as a consumable component that maintains its anti-slip function throughout its service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If self-adhesive anti-slip strips or standard width shoulder pads are used, then slipping can be prevented, but they are only available in standard widths requiring additional fasteners

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslip preventionVSAvoidwidth customization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dynamic, adjustable width design where the elastomer shoulder pad can be cut to different widths using a cutting element. This transforms the static, fixed-width shoulder pads into a dynamic system that adapts to various carrying strap widths, eliminating the need for additional fasteners or multiple standardized sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Strength

If snap fasteners are used to attach the shoulder pad, then the shoulder pad can be fixed to the strap, but they could tear out due to the high point load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidfastener durability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes snap fasteners and other mechanical fastening elements from the system. The elastomer shoulder pad relies on friction-based attachment through pressure application, distributing the load across the entire contact surface area rather than concentrating it at discrete fastener points, thereby eliminating the risk of fastener failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Adaptability or versatility

If a multi-layered padding body with detachable closure is used, then the shoulder pad can be retrofitted to existing straps and replaced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretrofit capabilityVSAvoidclosure system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the shoulder pad into a modular design with a detachable closure system. The elastomer padding body is separated from the closure mechanism, allowing the shoulder pad to be attached and detached from existing carrying straps. This segmentation enables retrofit capability while keeping the closure system simple and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The detachable closure system provides universal attachment capability, allowing the same elastomer shoulder pad to be fitted to various carrying strap types and widths. The closure mechanism serves multiple functions: securing the shoulder pad to the strap, enabling easy removal for cleaning or replacement, and accommodating different strap configurations without requiring complex customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 slip-resistant, adjustable, and cost-effective shoulder pad that can be retrofitted to existing straps, maintaining adhesion and cushioning over time, and allows for easy replacement and customization.

Implementation Method 1

Conventional shoulder pads made of fabric, leather or plastics provide only inadequate relief, as the friction between the shoulder pad and the clothing is too low

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The low compression set of silicone also means that no settling that would reduce cushioning is to be expected, even after prolonged wear of the shoulder pad

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4643705A1Shoulder pad, carrying system, carrying object, kit for shoulder pad
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 NEIDLEIN HARALD
  • EP4643705A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4643705A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4643705A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a shoulder pad (18) for arrangement on a carrying strap (16) of a carrying object (12), the shoulder pad (18) comprising: a multi-layered, anti-slip padding body (24) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (20) for receiving the carrying strap (16) with a first body section (28) and with a second body section (30), and a closing bead (26) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (20) and connecting the first body section (28) and the second body section (30).