Harness Buckle Bar Rotation Mechanism for Secure Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing saddle buckles with spring-activated bars often inadvertently slide into undesired positioning holes when pulled, causing inconvenience and inefficiency in adjusting the belt for different horse sizes.
Innovation Solution
A buckle design featuring a ring member, bar member, and elastic sheet where the bar member rotates relative to the ring member, utilizing a rebounding force from the elastic sheet to facilitate easy insertion or release through a rotating mechanism, with a stop portion to restrict continuous rotation beyond a terminal angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bar member continuously presses against the belt, then the belt can be securely fastened, but the bar member accidentally slides into undesired positioning holes when pulled, causing inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The bar member is designed to rotate dynamically between two states: pressed against the belt for secure fastening, and rotated away from the belt for easy adjustment. The elastic sheet provides the restoring force that enables this dynamic transition, allowing the bar to move from a horizontal pressing position to a rotated position where it no longer obstructs belt movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic sheet is pre-loaded to exert a restoring force on the bar member. When the bar is pulled and rotates away from the belt, the elastic sheet's preliminary stored energy automatically pushes the bar back to its original pressing position, preventing accidental displacement and ensuring the bar returns to its functional state without manual intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bar member is pulled out to allow belt movement, then adjustment is possible, but time is lost and convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bar member transitions dynamically from a blocking position to a non-blocking position through rotation. When adjustment is needed, the bar can be easily rotated away from the belt to allow smooth belt movement, then automatically returns to its pressing position via the elastic sheet's restoring force, enabling quick and efficient adjustment without time-consuming manual repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic sheet provides self-service by automatically returning the bar member to its functional pressing position after adjustment. This eliminates the need for manual intervention to reposition the bar, allowing the system to service itself and reducing the time and effort required for belt adjustment operations.
3Ease of operation
If the bar member rotates freely, then positioning is flexible, but continuous rotation causes accidental release or obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic sheet is pre-loaded with restoring force that acts as a counterbalance to gravitational or external forces. When the bar rotates to any position, the elastic sheet's preliminary stored energy continuously pushes the bar back toward its stable pressing position, preventing accidental release or obstruction by maintaining constant control over the bar's position.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic sheet provides continuous feedback force on the bar member based on its rotational position. As the bar rotates away from the pressing position, the elastic sheet's deformation increases, generating a stronger restoring force that pushes the bar back. This feedback mechanism ensures the bar naturally returns to and remains in the correct positioning, preventing accidental release while maintaining positioning flexibility.
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
Enables quick and convenient adjustment of the belt by allowing the bar member to rotate towards or away from the cross portion based on the angle, preventing accidental release or obstruction, thus improving the usability of the buckle.
Implementation Method 1
The free end firmly abuts against the protruding portion with a rebounding force generated by the elastic sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A buckle for harness includes a ring member, a bar member and an elastic sheet. The ring member includes two opposite side portions and a cross portion connected with the side portions. A shaft pivotally connected with the side portions is disposed on the bar member for the bar member rotating relative to the ring member. A protruding portion sticks out from the shaft. The elastic sheet includes a fastened end secured to the ring member and a free end firmly abutting against the protruding portion with a rebounding force generated by the elastic sheet. An angle θ defined between the protruding portion and the free end changes as the bar member rotates. The bar member keeps standing if the angle θ is greater than 90 degrees.