Knit Fabric Cable Sleeve With Resin Fastener for Secure Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible cords and cables often move out of their desired positions, leading to potential damage or obtrusiveness, and existing solutions for securing them are not universally effective.
Innovation Solution
A flexible support sleeve made of a knit fabric sheet with a fastening face and a strip of resin containing male touch fastener elements, which securely holds cables in place by engaging with the knit fabric loops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a strip of resin with male touch fastener elements is added to secure cables, then cable security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated support sleeve structure: the knit fabric provides both structural support and fastening surfaces (loops), the resin strip integrates adhesive bonding and male fastener elements, creating a unified component that secures cables through multiple mechanisms simultaneously rather than separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction combining knit fabric material with resin material to create a support sleeve that leverages the flexibility and loop-forming capability of knit fabric together with the bonding and structural properties of resin, achieving enhanced cable security through material composition
2Strength
If the strip of adhesive is made wider to improve bonding, then adhesive bonding strength is improved, but the area available for cable engagement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support sleeve applies different functional properties to different regions: the central portion features adhesive for surface bonding, while the lateral edges feature male fastener elements for cable engagement, allowing each zone to optimize its specific function without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening function is segmented into distinct components: adhesive bonding for attachment to surfaces and male touch fastener elements for cable securing, allowing independent optimization of each function's performance characteristics
3Ease of operation
If the selvedge width is increased to prevent engagement, then fastening control is improved, but the overall fastening area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The selvedge region is given a distinct functional property (void of male fastener elements) to create a controlled non-fastening zone that prevents unintended engagement while the remainder of the structure maintains full fastening capability, providing operational control without excessive area loss
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 flexible support sleeve effectively keeps cables organized and secure, preventing damage and obtrusiveness, while allowing for easy installation and removal.
Implementation Method 1
The strip of resin includes resin impregnating the fabric sheet to form a base
Implementation Method 2
A strip of adhesive is disposed on a second side of the flexible support sleeve
Implementation Method 3
Each male touch fastener element has a stem extending from and contiguous with the base and a head disposed at a distal end of the stem and overhanging the base to form a crook for engaging the loops of the knit fabric sheet to form a releasable fastening
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible support sleeve includes a knit fabric sheet with loops of fibers on a fastening face, a strip of resin overlaying a portion of the fastening face along one edge, with a strip of adhesive disposed along the same edge on an opposite side. The strip of resin includes male touch fastener elements configured to engage the loops of the knit fabric sheet. The strip of resin has a selvedge coterminous with the edge of the flexible support sleeve and void of male touch fastener elements, such that the selvedge of the base is not engageable with the loops of the knit fabric sheet. The strip of adhesive is wider than the strip of resin, such that the adhesive strip underlays all of the discrete male touch fastener elements of the strip of resin.