Lobe-and-Trough Latch Strips for Blind-Mate Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional releasable attachment methods, such as screws and hook-and-loop fasteners, are not optimal for blind-mate attachments and are sensitive to harsh environments, requiring dexterity, space, and being slow to apply and release, while also degrading in extreme conditions.
Innovation Solution
The use of first and second latch strips with an alternating pattern of lobes and troughs made from deformable material, where the lobes fit within the troughs until sufficient force is applied to separate them, providing a fast, convenient, and robust attachment solution even in extreme environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If screws or buttons are used for attachment, then the connection is secure, but the operation requires dexterity and space, making it unsuitable for blind-mate attachments
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into two separate latch strips with complementary lobes and troughs, allowing each strip to be independently attached to surfaces. This segmentation enables blind-mate attachment where each strip can be positioned independently without requiring manual dexterity to manipulate fasteners through tight spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The lobes and troughs are designed to automatically engage with each other when the latch strips are pressed together, creating a self-locking mechanism that does not require manual manipulation or tools. The deformable material allows the lobes to elastically deform during engagement and then lock into the troughs, providing secure attachment through self-service action.
2Productivity
If conventional fasteners are used, then attachment is achieved, but the process is slow to apply and release
Solution Approach 1:
The latch strips incorporate deformable material that allows dynamic engagement and disengagement. When force is applied, the lobes elastically deform to pass through each other and lock into the troughs, enabling rapid attachment. For release, applying force in the opposite direction causes the lobes to deform and disengage, allowing quick release without tools or complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The lobes are pre-shaped with rounded tops and the troughs are pre-formed to receive them, so that when the latch strips are brought together, the engagement occurs immediately without requiring additional steps. The deformable material is pre-configured to allow easy passage during engagement, eliminating the need for tool-assisted installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hook-and-loop fasteners are used, then blind-mate attachment is possible, but they degrade in harsh environments such as high heat or debris-filled areas
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses deformable material with specific mechanical properties (hardness between 20A and 90A Durometer) that maintains structural integrity across a wide temperature range. The lobes and troughs are designed with geometric parameters that ensure reliable engagement regardless of environmental conditions, unlike hook-and-loop fasteners whose physical and chemical properties change in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch strips can be made from deformable materials such as rubber, plastic, or silicone that are inherently resistant to degradation from heat, smoke, and debris. These materials maintain their elastic properties and structural integrity in extreme conditions, providing reliable attachment where organic-based fasteners would fail.
4Adaptability or versatility
If rigid attachment methods are used, then secure connection is achieved, but the attachment cannot accommodate flexible materials or blind-mate situations
Solution Approach 1:
The latch strips themselves are made from deformable material that can flex and conform to the surfaces being attached. This flexibility allows the strips to be attached to flexible materials and to deform during the attachment process to accommodate blind-mate situations, while still providing secure connection through the interlocking lobes and troughs.
Solution Approach 2:
The lobes are designed with rounded tops and the troughs have curved bottoms, creating a smooth interlocking geometry that accommodates deformation during engagement. This curved geometry allows the deformable material to elastically deform around the lobes during attachment while maintaining strong engagement, combining flexibility with attachment strength.
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 latch strip system allows for quick and easy attachment and detachment without tools, is tolerant to harsh environments, and maintains effectiveness in extreme conditions, such as high temperatures and debris-filled areas, making it suitable for blind-mate and flexible material applications.
Implementation Method 1
first latch strip composed at least in part of deformable material and having a first plurality of lobes and a first plurality of troughs
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for forming a releasable attachment provides first and second latch strips each having an alternating pattern of lobes and troughs. The lobes of the first latch strip are adapted to fit within the troughs of the second latch strip, and vice versa, with the lobes retained within the troughs until sufficient force is applied between the first and second latch strips to separate them.