Multi-Modal Fastener Structure for Stress-Free Cable Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial fasteners for long, uniform materials like wires and cables are inadequate for convenient and stress-free retention and organization, often causing breakage or being impractical for looping together.
Innovation Solution
A multi-modal fastener system that can transition between a planar and a loop-shaped configuration, featuring a length of material with a securing portion and a mating portion, allowing for reversible mating and secure retention of loose objects or wrapping around objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If uniform material fasteners are used for long objects, then the fasteners can be simple in structure, but they cause stress and breakage of retained objects
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is divided into multiple segments including a flexible body with alternating rigid and flexible portions, allowing the fastener to distribute stress across multiple points rather than concentrating force at a single location, thereby preventing breakage of retained objects
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener incorporates portions with different rigidity parameters along its length, with rigid portions providing structural support and flexible portions providing stress absorption and adaptation, creating a multi-parameter structure that maintains reliability without excessive complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform material fasteners are used, then manufacturing is simple, but looping and fastening is inconvenient or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener incorporates flexible portions that can dynamically change shape and configuration, enabling the fastener to be easily looped and fastened around objects of varying sizes and shapes while maintaining operational convenience
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the fastener into rigid and flexible portions, the design maintains relatively simple manufacturing processes while the flexible segments provide the necessary adaptability for convenient looping and fastening operations
3Adaptability or versatility
If multi-modal configurations are added to the fastener, then retention versatility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener's flexible portions enable it to dynamically adapt to different object shapes and sizes, providing multi-modal retention configurations through material flexibility rather than complex mechanical structures, thereby maintaining relatively simple device design
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible portions of the fastener act as adaptable elements that can conform to various object geometries, providing versatility in retention capability without requiring complex structural modifications to the overall device
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
Enables convenient and stress-free retention and organization of cables, ropes, and other objects by allowing the fastener to adapt its configuration, reducing the risk of breakage and improving usability.
Implementation Method 1
a bi-modal length of material extending substantially from the first end to the second end and configured to selectably adopt a first stable generally planar resting configuration and a second stable generally coil-shaped resting configuration
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides fasteners movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, and fastener systems comprising same.