Interchangeable Garment Accessory Attachment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clothing accessories often damage garments through puncture or require an intervening layer of fabric for assembly, leading to wear and tear and limited versatility.

Innovation Solution

A clothing accessory with a snap-fit attachment section formed by concentric rings and an interchangeable section, allowing for secure attachment to garments without fabric puncture, featuring a convex surface for unique adornments that can be easily swapped.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a broach or tie-pin is used to attach accessories to garments, then the accessory can be securely attached, but the fabric surface is punctured and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidfabric damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary attachment mechanism consisting of a base plate and a retaining ring that sandwich the fabric between them. This intermediary system distributes the attachment force across a larger area without puncturing the fabric, thereby maintaining attachment strength while eliminating fabric damage. The fabric acts as a mediator held between two rigid components rather than being directly pierced.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the fabric itself as a flexible thin film that is trapped between the base plate and retaining ring. This flexible film approach allows the fabric to be held in place without puncture, distributing stress across its surface and preventing the concentrated damage caused by pins or broaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a molded plastic plate and ring are used with frictional engagement, then fabric puncture is avoided, but an intervening layer of clothing is required for assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefabric puncture avoidanceVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the attachment device into two separate components: a base plate with engagement protrusions and a retaining ring with corresponding engagement surfaces. This segmentation allows the components to be assembled together first as a complete unit, and then applied to the garment as a single assembly, eliminating the need for fabric intervention during assembly while maintaining puncture-free attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base plate and retaining ring are pre-assembled together before being applied to the garment. This preliminary action completes the device assembly in advance, allowing the fabric to simply be sandwiched between the already-assembled components during application, thereby avoiding the complexity of requiring fabric intervention during the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If accessories are permanently attached to garments, then secure attachment is achieved, but interchangeability and versatility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidinterchangeability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic attachment system where the accessory can be easily attached and removed by simply opening the retaining ring and sliding it off the base plate. This dynamic mechanism maintains secure attachment during wear while enabling quick interchangeability, allowing the same base plate to accommodate different accessory inserts for enhanced versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The base plate serves as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple different accessory inserts through the standardized retaining ring mechanism. This multi-functional design allows a single attachment system to securely hold various types of accessories, thereby achieving both attachment security and interchangeability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If fabric fibers are repeatedly punctured and released, then accessory attachment and removal is enabled, but excessive wear and tear occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment and removal easeVSAvoidgarment lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS10165811B2Interchangeable fabric accessory and method of use

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 THE COZMIX INC

AI summary

Interchangeable accessory for removable attachment to garments including attachment and interchangeable sections. The attachment section formed by an inner peripheral ring with interspersed inner and outer ridges, an outer peripheral ring with concavity at an inner-edge surface, and a gap between the outer peripheral ring and the inner peripheral ring for interference fitting. The interchangeable section being a plug with inside and outside peripheral edges which form a cylindrical extension from the plug surface, the inside peripheral edge configured to snap-fit onto the inner ridges, and a cap including an inner circumferential tab having an inner periphery dimensioned smaller than the outer peripheral edge of the plug such that the cap is connectable to the plug in a removable manner.