Linear Fastener Perforation Layout for Tactile Closure Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reclosable bags lack sufficient tactile guidance for users when closing the fastener, making it difficult to align the interlocking closures properly.
Innovation Solution
A fastener assembly with flanges featuring distally extending male and female closure elements and perforations that vary in size and gap arrangement to provide enhanced tactile guidance during closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple interlocking closures are placed close to each other to enable press-to-close operation, then burst resistance is improved, but tactile guidance for alignment becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into multiple independent interlocking closure elements (first and second closures with respective male and female elements) that can be operated simultaneously. Each closure element maintains its own functional integrity while contributing to the overall burst resistance, allowing the system to achieve both reliability and operational clarity through segmented design.
Solution Approach 2:
A tactile guide path is introduced as an intermediary element between the closure elements and the user's finger. This guide path, formed by a continuous surface that extends across the closure elements, provides tactile feedback and alignment guidance without interfering with the mechanical interlocking function, thus resolving the contradiction between burst resistance and tactile guidance.
2Ease of operation
If partial indentations are used to provide tactile guide path, then guidance is provided, but the guidance is too subtle for adequate tactile feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The tactile guide path is designed with varying local qualities - the continuous surface has different tactile characteristics at different locations. The surface provides pronounced tactile feedback where needed for alignment guidance while maintaining appropriate texture and elevation for effective finger interaction, making the guidance clear and adequate without requiring complex structures.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to improvements for tactile guidance for closing a linear fastener. Such fasteners are known for use on reclosable storage bags. Disclosed is a fastener assembly comprising first and second opposing flanges. Each flange can have linear male and female closure elements that interlock with matching male and female elements of the second flange. The fastener assembly can further comprise a linear arrangement of perforations between the closure elements to provide enhanced tactile feedback while the fastener is closed.