Multi-Point Buckle Dust Jackets for Sand and Dust Ingress Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat belt buckles allow sand and dust to enter through gaps, affecting the locking mechanism and compromising the securing function, especially in off-road conditions.
Innovation Solution
A multi-point buckle design incorporating dust jackets between the latch and tongue slot to create a close fit and seal, preventing sand and dust ingress and enhancing structural engagement stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the latch is inserted into the buckle with a gap, then the latch can be easily inserted and removed, but sand and dust can enter through the gap and affect the locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
A dust jacket made of flexible material is introduced as an intermediary component between the latch and buckle. The dust jacket covers the gap while allowing the latch to pass through, preventing sand and dust ingress without interfering with the normal insertion and removal operations
Solution Approach 2:
The dust jacket is constructed from flexible material that can deform to accommodate the movement of the latch during insertion and removal. This flexible shell structure seals the gap dynamically, maintaining both operational ease and dust prevention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between latch and buckle is reduced, then sand and dust ingress is prevented, but the ease of insertion and removal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dust jacket serves as a mediator that decouples the relationship between gap size and dust prevention. It allows the gap to remain large enough for easy operation while the jacket itself provides the dust barrier function
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is separated from the structural gap. The dust jacket is a separate component that provides sealing without requiring the gap to be reduced, allowing independent optimization of both ease of operation and dust prevention
3Reliability
If sand and dust accumulate in the buckle, then the locking mechanism becomes unreliable, but adding sealing components increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The dust jacket uses a simple flexible shell structure rather than complex multi-component sealing systems. This single-piece flexible barrier provides reliable dust prevention without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The dust jacket is designed as a simple, potentially replaceable component that can be easily manufactured and installed. Its simplicity allows for easy maintenance or replacement if needed, minimizing the impact of added complexity on the overall system
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-point buckle has a buckle, at least two latches and a plurality of dust jackets. The dust jacket is employed between the latch and the tongue slot of the buckle to achieve a close fit and seal effects, which not only increases the structural engagement stability between the tongue slot and the tongue but also prevent sand, dust and dirt from falling into the tongue slot not causing the latch from shaking loose and the friction and interference of foreign objects in the buckle.