Interlocking Strap Clamp Prevents Misalignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing strap clamps for passenger assist straps in public transit vehicles can become misaligned due to loose machine screws, leading to premature wear, damage, and potential passenger injury from disengagement.

Innovation Solution

An interlocking strap clamp design with L-shaped or other interlocking sides and teeth that enclose all layers of the strap, preventing twisting and misalignment by extending arms that meet when the clamp pieces start to twist, ensuring secure fastening with a screw.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the machine screw is tightened to secure the clamp pieces onto the strap, then the clamp holds the strap firmly, but the machine screw can become loose due to vibrations or tampering, causing the clamp pieces to twist and misalign

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamp securityVSAvoidclamp alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp is divided into two separate pieces (front piece and back piece) that can be independently positioned and secured, allowing each piece to maintain its alignment independently through the interlocking mechanism with the strap layers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp pieces nest around the strap layers with the front piece covering the front layer, the back piece covering the back layer, and both pieces interlocking with the middle layer to create a stable, nested structure that prevents twisting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the clamp pieces are allowed to twist and misalign, then the machine screw can become looser, but this causes damage or premature wear to the assist strap and may lead to complete disengagement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamp adjustmentVSAvoidstrap damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp design incorporates preliminary anti-action by structuring the pieces to interlock with the strap layers in a way that prevents twisting and misalignment before they can cause damage to the strap or lead to complete disengagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp pieces are designed with predetermined alignment features and interlocking geometries that automatically maintain proper alignment when installed, eliminating the need for ongoing adjustment and preventing harmful effects before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the sides of the clamp pieces are designed to meet and prevent twisting, then the clamp alignment is maintained, but the clamp may bottom out and cannot be tightened further

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamp alignmentVSAvoidclamp tightening

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the clamp pieces have different functions: the sides of the pieces are designed to interlock with the strap layers to prevent twisting, while the facing surfaces maintain a gap to allow continued tightening without bottoming out

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10414315B2Interlocking strap clamp

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 AMATRIMARA INC C O B RIVER DRIVE MFG

AI summary

A clamp for holding a looped strap as required for a passenger assist strap on a railing in a public transit vehicle, comprising a first piece and a second piece with interlocking sides to hold the strap loop together and also prevent the first and second pieces from twisting out of alignment.