Multi-Pivot Lanyard Clip for Variable Clothing Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hard hat lanyards fail to securely attach to a wide range of clothing materials, leading to inadequate protection when the hard hat falls off, due to insufficient gripping force on thin materials and inability to fit thicker materials, and varying material properties affecting clip performance.
Innovation Solution
The lanyard clip design features a flexible lanyard with a clip mechanism that includes angled teeth, multiple pivot axes, and a spring-loaded lever system, allowing for adjustable grip and increased pulling force, accommodating various clothing thicknesses and materials, ensuring secure attachment to both thin and thick fabrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a standard clip design is used, then the structure is simple, but the gripping force is insufficient (30 lbs or less) and cannot securely attach to various clothing materials
Solution Approach 1:
The clip incorporates a lever that can pivot between locked and unlocked positions, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the user to easily open the clip by pivoting the lever while maintaining strong gripping force when closed, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and gripping strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an engaging component with teeth that acts as an intermediary mechanism between the lever and the clothing material. The teeth engage with the fabric to provide enhanced gripping force, allowing the clip to securely attach to various clothing materials without requiring excessive structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the clip teeth are arranged in a simple pattern, then the manufacturing is easier, but the clip cannot accommodate different clothing thicknesses (up to 4 mm)
Solution Approach 1:
The clip teeth are segmented into multiple rows and columns, creating a grid pattern that can adapt to various clothing thicknesses. This segmentation allows the teeth to engage with fabric at multiple points and depths, accommodating materials up to 4 mm thick while maintaining ease of manufacture through a systematic repeating pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by varying the tooth configuration in different areas of the clip. The staggered arrangement of teeth in rows and columns provides different engagement depths and angles in different locations, allowing the clip to adapt to varying fabric thicknesses and material properties across different regions of the clothing.
3Reliability
If the teeth are arranged in straight rows, then the structure is simpler, but the gripping effectiveness on slippery and low-compressibility materials is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging component can rotate about a pivot axis, introducing dynamic adaptability to the tooth configuration. This rotation allows the teeth to adjust their engagement angle with the clothing material, maintaining reliable attachment on slippery and low-compressibility materials by optimizing the contact geometry between teeth and fabric.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the tooth arrangement by staggering columns and creating multiple rows at different angles. This parameter variation in the tooth configuration enhances gripping effectiveness on difficult materials by providing multiple engagement orientations, while the systematic pattern keeps the overall structure manageable.
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 improved clip design provides a peak pulling force of 100 lbs or more, effectively securing the hard hat to clothing, outperforming standard clips which often fail at 30 lbs or less, and adapting to different material properties like knit cotton, wool, and polyester.
Implementation Method 1
The clip further comprises a spring that biases a first end of the lever away from the clip body, thus biasing the second end of the lever, which is coupled to the engaging component, towards the first teeth.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes clips for lanyards, such as hard hat lanyards. The clips include opposing teeth that move to a closed/clamped position to secure a lanyard to a user, such as to the clothes of a user. The clip includes a body, a lever and a grip. Opposing teeth are located on the grip and body. The clip includes multiple pivoting connections between the body, lever and grip. The teeth on the grip may lie along an arcuate path and/or may have a tooth depth that facilitates engagement with material such as clothing.