Elastomeric Strap Assembly with Hook and Loop Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strap assemblies are difficult to use, store, and combine in a stacked arrangement, lack sufficient strength and grip, and are often expensive due to complex mechanical components and materials.
Innovation Solution
A strap assembly with an elastic, elongated body made from rubber or EPDM material and detachable hook and loop fasteners that provide natural tension and grip without mechanical buckles or ratcheting mechanisms, allowing for adjustable strength and easy use by stacking multiple assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hook and loop straps are used, then the strap can wrap around objects, but the strap is slippery and does not grip the object effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines hook and loop fasteners with an elastic body into a unified strap assembly. The hook fastener on one end and loop fastener on the other end work together with the elastic material to provide both ease of operation and reliable grip, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and gripping effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap assembly uses composite construction combining elastic material (for tension and grip) with hook and loop fasteners (for secure attachment). This composite approach allows the strap to simultaneously provide the flexibility and tension of elastic material while achieving reliable grip through the mechanical interlocking of hook and loop components.
2Strength
If mechanical buckles or ratcheting mechanisms are used, then the strap provides strong tension, but the device becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical buckles or ratcheting mechanisms with a simpler elastic body combined with hook and loop fasteners. The elastic material naturally provides tension strength through its material properties rather than requiring complex mechanical tensioning systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body serves its own tensioning function through its inherent elastic properties, eliminating the need for separate mechanical tensioning devices. The strap automatically adjusts and maintains tension through the elastic material's natural response to stretching, providing self-service tensioning without complex mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If typical hook and loop straps are used, then the strap is simple to manufacture, but the strap does not provide enough tension to grip and hold objects
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite construction by combining hook and loop fasteners with an elastic body. This composite approach maintains the manufacturing simplicity of hook and loop components while significantly enhancing tension capacity through the elastic material's inherent properties, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the simple hook and loop fastening system with an elastic body to create a strap assembly that retains manufacturing simplicity while gaining enhanced tension capacity. The combination allows the strap to be manufactured using straightforward processes for each component while achieving superior gripping and holding capabilities.
4Reliability
If straps are designed for strong grip, then the strap can hold objects securely, but the strap becomes difficult to store and combine in stacked arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The strap assembly is segmented into distinct components: an elastic body and detachable hook and loop fasteners. This segmentation allows the strap to be easily separated, stored, and combined in stacked arrangements while maintaining strong grip capability when deployed. The modular design enables convenient storage and combination without compromising holding strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap assembly incorporates dynamic elements through its elastic body that can stretch and retract, and detachable fasteners that can be easily attached and detached. This dynamic design allows the strap to transition between deployed (providing strong grip) and stored (compact and combinable) states, resolving the contradiction between holding strength and storage ease.
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 offers a cost-effective, versatile, and strong strap assembly that can be easily used for various applications, providing a strong grip and adjustable tension without the need for complex manufacturing processes, making it suitable for multiple industries and uses.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic, elongated body made from rubber or EPDM material that provides natural tension
Implementation Method 2
detachable hook and loop fasteners that provide a strong grip on an object
Data Source
AI summary
A strap assembly providing an elongated, planar elastomeric body extending between a first end and a second end, wherein a first detachable fastener is directly fixed to the first end, wherein a second detachable fastener is directly fixed to the second end, and wherein the first and second detachable fasteners removably attach to each other. One or both of the detachable fasteners may have attachment points for connecting other types of connectors.