End Stop Asymmetric Protrusions for Slide Fastener Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional end stops with circular male and female members are difficult to position and attach to slide fasteners due to their circular shape, lacking rotation inhibiting features like angled or elliptical shapes, making it challenging to securely connect the fastener tapes.
Innovation Solution
The end stop design features a male and female member with a circular outer contour, incorporating a protrusion group arranged at predetermined angles around the circumference, which allows for easy attachment by recessing the core portions of the fastener tapes, providing a secure connection without reducing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a circular-shaped male member and female member are used for the end stop, then the outer contour is simple and aesthetically pleasing, but the positioning operation becomes difficult due to lack of rotation inhibiting features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric positioning protrusions and corresponding positioning grooves on the circular male and female members. These asymmetric features break the rotational symmetry of the circular shape, providing unique orientation guidance during assembly while preserving the overall circular aesthetic appearance of the end stop components.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protrusions and grooves act as intermediary features that facilitate the connection between the male and female members. These intermediary elements enable easy positioning and orientation during assembly without compromising the circular outer contour design.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional male member with a notched groove is used, then positioning can be achieved, but the design complexity increases and the circular aesthetic is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a notched groove that breaks the circular shape, the patent employs asymmetric positioning protrusions that maintain the circular outer contour while providing the necessary positioning functionality. This reduces design complexity by avoiding the need for complex grooving operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is segmented into separate protrusion and groove features rather than requiring a complex notched groove structure. This segmentation simplifies the overall design and manufacturing process while achieving the same positioning objective.
3Strength
If the male and female members are fitted to sandwich the fastener tapes, then secure connection is achieved, but the positioning difficulty remains due to circular shape
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning protrusions and grooves enable easy alignment and attachment of the male and female members before sandwiching the fastener tapes. This ensures that the secure connection is achieved with proper orientation, combining both ease of operation and high fixing strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protrusions and grooves perform the preliminary action of alignment and orientation before the final sandwiching operation. This preliminary positioning ensures that subsequent attachment is easy and achieves the desired secure connection without repositioning.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an end stop. A male member and a female member are configured to sandwich opposing side edge portions of a pair of fastener tapes from both sides thereof in an upward and downward direction. The male member includes a circular disk-shaped male base member and an inserting male portion. The female member includes a circular disk-shaped female base member and a receiving female portion. A facing surface of at least one of the male base portion and the female base portion is provided with a protrusion group. The protrusion group is configured so that a plurality of protrusions protruding to come at least in contact with each fastener tape are arranged to be spaced from each other at predetermined angles over the entire circumference of the facing surface along a circumferential direction thereof.