Child Carrier Harness Fastener Preventing Accidental Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing harness fastener systems for child carrier devices are prone to accidental unfastening due to external pressure on the release button, which can inadvertently unlock the buckle, compromising safety.

Innovation Solution

A harness fastener system with a buckle and release button design where the first and second plugs are movable parallel to the front surface for engaging and disengaging, and the release button is positioned to minimize accidental activation, using deflectable arms and resilient fingers to securely lock and unlock the plugs within the buckle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the release button is placed on the front surface of the buckle for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to accidental unfastening from external pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The release button is repositioned from the front surface to the rear surface of the buckle, changing its spatial location to a dimension less accessible to external pressure while maintaining operational accessibility through the strap structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The tongue of the plug serves as an intermediary element that must be inserted to activate the release button, adding a mediating step that prevents direct accidental activation while allowing intentional release

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the release button is positioned away from the front surface to prevent accidental activation, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The release button functionality is merged with the tongue insertion mechanism, where the same structural element (tongue) that engages the buckle also serves to activate release when inserted into the recessed button

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The release mechanism incorporates resilient fingers that can deflect to accommodate the tongue insertion, providing dynamic adaptation that maintains ease of operation while preventing accidental activation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the buckle uses a simple plug engagement design, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to accidental unfastening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The buckle is segmented into distinct functional zones: the front engagement surface for plug insertion, the rear recessed area for the release button, and the resilient finger mechanism, creating spatial separation between engagement and release functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the buckle have specialized properties: the front surface provides engagement geometry, the rear surface provides protected button access, and resilient fingers provide controlled deflection for intentional release while resisting accidental activation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2229834B1Harness fastener system for child carrier device
Publication Date: 2016.11.23 BP CHILDRENS PRODUCTS HK CO LTD
  • EP2229834B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2229834B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2229834B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A harness fastener system (1) for a child carrier device comprises a first plug (12), and a buckle (11) including a front surface (11a) and a release button (14). The first plug (12) is movable along a first direction substantially parallel with the front surface (11a) for engaging with the buckle, (11) and the release button (14) is movable along a second direction substantially parallel with the front surface (11a) for pushing the first plug (12) out of the buckle (11).