Lateral-Wing Fastener Elements for Haptic Engagement Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-engaging fastener products lack effective feedback mechanisms to indicate full engagement and have suboptimal engagement and disengagement force profiles.
Innovation Solution
Designing fastener elements with flexible strips and laterally extending wings that have a centroid closer to the lowermost point, providing enhanced haptic feedback and optimized engagement/disengagement forces through controlled deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If mushroom-type fastener elements with multi-directional overhanging heads are used, then engagement strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to deformation processes required to create multi-sided heads
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener element is segmented into distinct functional components: a stem portion and a head portion with laterally extending wings. This segmentation allows the head to be formed as a separate structural element with optimized geometry, rather than requiring complex deformation of a unified structure. The wings extend laterally from the stem to provide multi-directional engagement capability while maintaining manufacturability through standard molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of deforming the end of a stem to create an overhanging head (conventional approach), this invention inverts the approach by forming the head with laterally extending wings that naturally overhang during engagement. The wings are formed as integral parts of the molded structure, eliminating the need for post-molding deformation processes while achieving the desired overhanging geometry for strong engagement.
2Ease of operation
If fastener elements require head deflection for separation, then releasable engagement is achieved, but haptic feedback for full engagement becomes difficult to provide
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener element incorporates a feedback mechanism through the specific geometry of the wings and their interaction during engagement. As the wings engage with mating elements, the centroid positioning and lateral extension create detectable haptic cues that indicate full engagement to the user, while the overall structure maintains the ability to deflect for releasable separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fastener element have optimized properties: the wings are positioned and dimensioned to provide haptic feedback during engagement, while the stem and head connection allows for controlled deflection during separation. The centroid of the wing area is positioned to optimize both the engagement feedback and the deflection characteristics for easy release.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If wing centroid is positioned closer to the lowermost point, then haptic feedback is enhanced, but structural symmetry is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wing geometry intentionally employs asymmetry by positioning the centroid closer to the lowermost point rather than at the geometric center. This asymmetric configuration optimizes the haptic feedback characteristics during engagement, creating detectable tactile cues that indicate proper engagement to the user, while the overall fastener element maintains functional balance through the lateral extension of wings from the stem.
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 designed fastener elements provide tangible haptic feedback during engagement and maintain optimal engagement/disengagement forces, enhancing user experience and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the wing defines an area in a vertical plane coincident with one of the side surfaces of the stem, the area having a lowermost point and an uppermost point with respect to perpendicular distance from the layer of resin, the area defining a centroid. In some embodiments, the centroid is closer to the lowermost point than to the uppermost point
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener in the form of a flexible strip with a layer of resin having opposite longitudinal edges, and an array of discrete fastening elements carried on a surface of the flexible strip. Each fastening element has a resin stem extending upward from, and contiguous with, the layer of resin, the stem having opposite lateral side surfaces facing the edges of the flexible strip, and a wing protruding from one of the lateral side surfaces of the stem and spaced above the layer of resin. The wing defines an area in a vertical plane coincident with one of the side surfaces of the stem. As measured perpendicular to the layer of resin, the centroid of the area is closer to the lowermost point of the area than to the uppermost point of the area.