Compact Friction Cord Lock Without Spring Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cord locks are cumbersome, difficult to adjust, prone to entanglement, and often malfunctions due to spring mechanisms or large dimensions, making them unreliable and hard to produce and assemble.
Innovation Solution
A compact cord lock design featuring a main body with a through-hole and a friction member with tapered teeth and engagement tongues, which blocks the hole's gap to prevent cord sliding until sufficient traction is applied, using a U-bolt-like formation and snap-fit assembly for ease of use and production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spring mechanism is used to enable cord adjustment, then the cord lock becomes more functional and adjustable, but the dimensions increase and the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring mechanism from the cord lock design, extracting the problematic component that caused complexity and size issues. Instead, a simple friction-based blocking mechanism is used, where a block with a hole fits into the plate's hole to prevent cord movement, eliminating the need for springs while maintaining adjustability functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a simple, inexpensive blocking element (a block with a hole) that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, rather than a complex spring mechanism. This simple component achieves the same functional goal of preventing cord movement without the complexity, size, or reliability issues of spring-based systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a spring mechanism with movable element is used, then cord adjustment is enabled, but the device dimensions become relatively large
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism that occupied significant space within the plate is completely removed. The replacement blocking system requires minimal space, allowing the cord lock to maintain a compact form factor while still providing effective cord adjustment and securing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking element is designed to fit within or alongside the existing plate structure, nesting the functional components efficiently. The block with its hole integrates into the plate's hole structure, maximizing space utilization and minimizing the overall volume of the cord lock device.
3Ease of operation
If the loop of the cord is slackened for adjustment, then the cord position can be changed, but the cord may become entangled
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking element is designed to maintain continuous contact with the cord throughout the adjustment process. As the cord is pulled to adjust the loop size, the block follows and maintains blocking engagement, preventing the cord from becoming loose or entangled during the adjustment operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking mechanism automatically maintains its blocking function during cord adjustment without requiring additional actions from the user. The geometry of the block and its interaction with the cord and plate hole creates a self-regulating system that prevents entanglement as the cord is tensioned or adjusted.
4Reliability
If conventional cord locks are used, then cord securing is achieved, but they are cumbersome and difficult to produce and assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The cord lock is divided into two simple, separable components: a plate with a hole and a blocking element with a hole. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simple processes, and then assembled by inserting the block into the plate's hole, greatly easing production and assembly while maintaining the cord securing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The simple block and plate design serves multiple functions: it secures the cord, allows for adjustment, prevents entanglement, and is easy to manufacture and assemble. This universal simple design replaces complex conventional cord locks with a multi-functional system that achieves all desired functions through minimal components.
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 reliable, easy-to-use, and compact cord lock that is economical to produce and assemble, with a secure friction mechanism that prevents cord sliding until the desired tension is reached, eliminating entanglement risks and reducing the likelihood of malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
The friction of the cord in the holes of the plate prevents it from sliding... The sliding of a cord which is inserted in the through-hole is thereby limited and prevented until a given traction on the cord is overcome
Data Source
AI summary
A cord lock for adjusting the length of a cord includes a main body with a through hole, in which a cord can be inserted. A friction member is blocked in the main body in such a manner that a portion of a tooth thereof narrows the gap of the through-hole in order to limit the sliding of the cord.