Transport Container Fastener Spring Rest Position

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing butterfly fasteners for transport containers face issues with the protrusion of the locking mechanism in both locked and unlocked states, posing a safety risk and requiring manual effort to engage and disengage the fastener hook.

Innovation Solution

The fastener design incorporates a spring mechanism that pushes the hook into a rest position within a cup, with additional springs and bevels to facilitate engagement and disengagement without manual lifting, and a bolt with a wing handle to reduce protrusion and simplify operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the locking mechanism is designed to protect the fastener by preventing protrusion in the locked state, then the fastener is protected, but the locking mechanism still protrudes in the unlocked state creating safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastener protectionVSAvoidsafety risk from protrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the fastener hook movable between two positions: a retracted position where it is pushed into the cup by a spring (safe state), and an extended position where it protrudes to engage the flange (operational state). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by ensuring protection during storage while enabling functionality during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring mechanism performs preliminary action by continuously pushing the fastener hook into the cup toward the bottom, maintaining it in a retracted safe position before engagement is needed. This preliminary retraction eliminates safety risks from accidental protrusion while preserving the ability to engage when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the fastener hook is pushed into the cup by a spring to eliminate protrusion, then safety is improved, but manual effort is required to pull the hook outward for engagement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety riskVSAvoidmanual effort required

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary bevel structure that mediates between the spring force and the engagement requirement. The bevel on the cup or flange acts as a ramp that converts the pulling motion into guided engagement, reducing the manual effort needed to overcome the spring force while ensuring proper alignment and engagement of the fastener hook with the flange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the fastener hook must be lifted to reach the fastener flange during displacement, then engagement is achieved, but additional manual effort and complexity are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement processVSAvoidlifting requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature through the bevel structure, which provides a sloped surface that guides the fastener hook during displacement. This curved/geometric feature eliminates the need for lifting by providing a natural ramp that directs the hook into engagement with the flange, simplifying the operation and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a wing handle with pins engaging recesses in a bolt is used to displace the fastener hook, then protrusion is reduced, but the mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotrusion reductionVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into the wing handle mechanism: it serves as both the actuating lever and the displacement mechanism through pins engaging recesses in the bolt. This integration reduces protrusion while consolidating components, actually simplifying the overall structure despite the sophisticated motion control achieved through the pin-recess engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 ensures the fastener hook is securely engaged and disengaged without protrusion, enhancing safety and ease of use by eliminating the need for manual lifting and reducing the risk of accidents during transportation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one spring is arranged such that the fastener hook is pushed toward the bottom of the second cup into a rest position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a bevel is arranged in the first cup, the bevel guiding the fastener hook upon a displacement toward the fastener flange from the rest position to the fastener flange

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBevel: Wedge

Data Source

PatentUS8733803B2Fastener for a transport container

Publication Date: 2014.05.27 ADAM HALL

AI summary

A fastener for a transport container includes two portions to be connected and wherein the fastener includes a fastener flange arranged in a first cup and a displaceable fastener hook tiltably arranged in a second cup, the hook engaging behind the fastener flange in a closed position, it is provided in that at least one spring is disposed such that the fastener hook is pushed toward the bottom of the second cup into a rest position.