Magnetic Buckle With Slanted Surfaces For Secure Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Two-piece buckles often require complex mechanisms like springs or hinges for engagement and disengagement, which can be cumbersome and insecure under tension.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece buckle assembly using cooperating magnets and slanted surfaces that allow for easy engagement and secure locking without moving parts, where the magnetic force and frictional force must be overcome to disengage, with slanted surfaces aiding alignment and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring-loaded latching mechanism is used for engagement and disengagement, then the buckle remains secure under tension, but the mechanism becomes complex with moving parts such as springs and hinges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional spring-loaded mechanical latching mechanism with a magnetic field-based locking system. Magnets embedded in the buckle components create magnetic attraction forces that secure the buckle under tension without requiring springs, hinges, or other moving parts. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical mechanisms while maintaining security under load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the spring and hinge components from the buckle mechanism. By eliminating these moving parts entirely and relying on magnetic forces for both engagement and retention, the design simplifies the overall mechanism while preserving the essential function of secure attachment under tension.
2Ease of operation
If a spring-loaded latching mechanism is used, then the buckle can be released by pressing a button, but this requires moving parts that increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the button-press mechanical release mechanism with a magnetic field-based release system. The same magnets that provide locking force also enable release through controlled manipulation, eliminating the need for buttons, springs, and hinges while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes all moving parts including buttons, springs, and hinges from the release mechanism. The simplified design relies on magnetic attraction and friction forces that can be overcome by manual manipulation of the buckle components themselves, eliminating the need for separate release mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If magnets are used to hold the buckle portions together, then the buckle assembly becomes simpler without moving parts, but the magnetic force must be overcome to disengage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface characteristics to different parts of the buckle components. Slanted surfaces are specifically designed on the exterior surfaces to provide mechanical advantage during disengagement, while the interior surfaces maintain magnetic attraction for secure locking. This local differentiation of surface properties enables easy release without compromising the magnetic locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates slanted and curved surfaces on the buckle components that create a ramp-like geometry. These curved surfaces provide mechanical leverage that assists users in overcoming the magnetic attraction force during disengagement, making the release process easier while maintaining the simplicity of the magnetic locking system.
4Reliability
If the fastening hooks engage the fastening openings directly, then the connection is secure, but the components may not align properly during engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates slanted and curved guiding surfaces on the exterior of the buckle components that automatically align the fastening hooks with the fastening openings during the engagement process. These curved surfaces provide a self-aligning mechanism that guides the components into proper position as they come together, ensuring reliable connection without requiring precise manual alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the slanted surfaces to perform the alignment function before the fastening hooks engage the fastening openings. As the buckle components approach each other during engagement, the slanted surfaces make contact first and guide the components into proper alignment, preparing the system for secure engagement before the locking action occurs.
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 buckle assembly provides a simple, secure, and tension-resistant connection that can be easily disengaged with minimal force, ensuring reliable attachment and detachment without the need for springs or hinges.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet enclosed in the base body under the circular flat... causes the magnets to engage each other and the fastening hooks of each buckle portion to enter the fastening openings of the other buckle portion, to lock the two buckle portions together and prevent disengagement under tension
Implementation Method 2
The force needed to move the buckle parts to disengage them must exceed the magnetic force holding the two buckle parts together, as well as the frictional force connecting the fastening wedge to the fastening hook
Data Source
AI summary
A buckle assembly has a first buckle portion that cooperates with a second buckle portion. Each of the buckle portions has a base body with exterior surfaces, interior surfaces that extend from a central circular flat, a fastening hook on one longitudinal end and a fastening opening with a first fastening wedge on another longitudinal end on an opposite side of the circular flat from the fastening hook, and a magnet under the circular flat. Placing the interior surfaces of the first buckle portion against the interior surfaces of the second buckle portion causes the magnets to engage each other and the fastening hooks of each buckle portion to enter the fastening openings of the other buckle portion, to lock the two buckle portions together and prevent disengagement under tension in opposing directions parallel to a longitudinal extent of the buckle assembly.