Modular Snap Fastener Floating Rope Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fishing net devices face issues with floating and counterweight elements easily becoming entangled, leading to reduced net spread and damage during use, and existing automated methods are either time-consuming or require expensive specialized equipment.

Innovation Solution

A fishing tool floating rope system featuring a module stringing core with modular snap fasteners allows for quick assembly and automated production of floating elements at equal intervals, using a conventional circular knitting machine, eliminating the need for specialized devices and reducing entanglement risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If floating elements are manually knotted on net ropes, then the floating elements can be securely attached, but the process is time-consuming and the floating elements easily become entangled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The floating rope is divided into modular units, each containing a fixed number of floating elements (e.g., five floats per module). These modules are pre-assembled and then connected to form the complete floating rope, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining secure attachment through standardized connection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple floating elements are nested within a single modular unit, with each float positioned at specific intervals along the module. This nesting approach allows multiple floating elements to be attached securely within a compact structure, reducing the overall assembly time while maintaining reliable attachment of each individual float.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Force

If floating elements are exposed outside the net rope, then they provide better buoyancy, but they increase the risk of entanglement and damage during dragging operation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebuoyancyVSAvoidentanglement risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Floating elements are nested within the net rope structure, specifically positioned inside the mesh openings or within protective housings integrated into the rope. This nesting configuration maintains the buoyancy force of the floating elements while protecting them from external entanglement and damage during dragging operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible covering layer or mesh is used to enclose the floating elements, allowing them to maintain their buoyancy function while being protected from entanglement. The flexible material conforms to the shape of the floating elements and provides a protective barrier against external objects during dragging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Productivity

If a special floating rope woven device is used to automate float insertion, then production speed increases, but the device is expensive and has limited utilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidequipment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floating rope manufacturing process is segmented into modular assembly steps, where pre-fabricated modules containing floating elements are connected together. This segmentation allows for simplified equipment requirements compared to continuous automated insertion, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining high production speed through efficient module assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular floating rope design uses standardized connection mechanisms and universal module structures that can be adapted for different floating rope configurations and applications. This universality increases equipment utilization by allowing the same assembly equipment to produce various types of floating ropes, reducing the need for specialized single-purpose devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Stability of the object's composition

If floating elements are placed at fixed intervals, then the net spreads evenly in water, but manual positioning is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenet spreading stabilityVSAvoidpositioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The floating rope is divided into modular units with pre-determined float intervals (e.g., every 50cm or 1m). Each module contains floating elements positioned at standardized intervals, ensuring even net spreading when the modules are connected. This segmentation eliminates the need for manual measurement and positioning during assembly, significantly reducing positioning time while maintaining stable net composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interval between floating elements is standardized to specific parameter values (e.g., 50cm, 1m) that optimize net spreading performance. By changing the interval parameter to these standardized values in the modular design, the system achieves stable net composition without requiring time-consuming manual measurement and adjustment during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3351096B1Fishing tool floating rope
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 HSIEH FOU FISHING TACKLES IND
  • EP3351096B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3351096B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3351096B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A fishing tool floating rope is disclosed by present invention. The module stringing core is configured to string a plurality of floating elements at equal intervals. Each of the floating elements has a main body having two ends connected jointly to a neck portion and a terminal portion. The neck portion has a radial cross-sectional size less than the radial cross-sectional sizes of the main body and the terminal portion. The covering woven rope is interlaced to cover the module stringing core. In an embodiment example, a modular snap fasteners comprises a bendable line and a plurality of hollow snap fastening members connected to two ends of the bendable line. Each of the hollow snap fastening members comprises U-shaped gap snap fastening slot configured to fit the neck portion. Therefore, through the quickly connector, the floating element and the modular snap fastener can be quickly assembled to form a string of the module stringing core serving as a center line of circular knitting machine to produce the fishing tool floating rope, so that the automated production can be achieved.