Magnetic Crocodile Clip Fastener for Oblique Pull Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners for accessories, such as necklaces and bracelets, are prone to accidental disengagement when pulled at oblique angles, and they are difficult to engage or disengage, especially in confined spaces like the back of the neck, due to design limitations that lead to improper alignment and contact with stopping parts.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a crocodile clip with spring-operable jaw members and a cylindrical holder with a semicircular notch, where a magnetic attraction part guides the locking part into a secure position, preventing accidental disengagement and facilitating smooth engagement/disengagement without contacting stopping parts, regardless of the direction of force applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spring force of the crocodile clip is strengthened to prevent accidental disengagement when pulled at oblique angles, then the reliability of the fastener is improved, but the device complexity and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the locking part and the crocodile clip. The guide member includes a guiding surface that directs the locking part along a predetermined path during engagement, ensuring proper alignment and preventing oblique pulling forces from causing disengagement. This mediator allows the use of weaker spring force while maintaining reliability through geometric constraint rather than purely mechanical force.
2Volume of moving object
If the crocodile clip opening is made smaller to reduce size, then the compactness is improved, but the ease of engagement deteriorates due to improper alignment and contact with stopping parts
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member extends in the depth direction (third dimension) of the fastener, creating a three-dimensional engagement path. The guiding surface is positioned at a specific depth within the crocodile clip opening, allowing the locking part to be guided along a predetermined trajectory that avoids contact with stopping parts at the edges. This dimensional approach enables compact opening size while maintaining smooth engagement through spatial guidance.
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 fastener ensures secure locking and easy handling by preventing accidental disengagement and allowing smooth engagement/disengagement without relying on visual inspection, even when force is applied at oblique angles, while maintaining a compact size due to reduced spring force requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic attraction part guides the locking part into a secure position
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener for accessories includes a male part and a female part. The female part is a crocodile clip, which includes a pair of jaw members operable to open/close by a spring force. The fastener for accessories includes a first attraction part and a second attraction part. The first attraction part is located at an inner space in the pair of the jaw members. The second attraction part is located at the front part of the locking part. The first attraction part is located at either one of the jaw members. In addition, a holder, into which the second attraction part of the locking part is inserted, is placed in front of the first attraction part located in the crocodile clip.