Tethering System with Nesting Cable and Clutch Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tethering systems for securing paired articles, such as shoes, are inconvenient to assemble and disassemble, prone to tangling, and can damage eyelets, leading to delays and potential theft, while also causing aesthetic issues when compacted in boxes.
Innovation Solution
A tethering system featuring an elongate cable with pre-set coiled portions and clutch assemblies at both ends, allowing for secure attachment and easy release, with an electronic article surveillance component for theft detection, enabling secure display and easy customer inspection without compromising appearance or functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a long cable is used to allow customers to try on shoes, then customer convenience is improved, but the cable becomes prone to tangling and knotting
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is configured to nest within itself when not in use, with a first portion containing a second portion, allowing the cable to be compacted neatly in the shoe box without tangling or knotting while still providing sufficient length for customer use
2Reliability
If a flexible metal cable with clutch mechanism is used for security, then theft prevention is improved, but assembly and disassembly become time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The cable ends are pre-configured with blocking components and releasable structures that enable quick attachment to eyelets without requiring time-consuming manual assembly, while maintaining secure theft prevention through the clutch mechanism
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cable is made long enough to allow shoe trying, then customer inspection capability is improved, but the cable bunches and detracts from shoe appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is designed to nest within itself in a controlled manner, with the first portion containing the second portion, creating a neat compact appearance in the shoe box that does not bunch or detract from the shoe aesthetics while still providing adequate length for customer inspection
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 system effectively secures paired articles, reduces assembly time, minimizes tangling, and maintains a neat appearance, while providing effective theft monitoring and easy separation for checkout, addressing the challenges of conventional security systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first component on at least one of: a) the first blocking component; b) the second blocking component; c) the cable; and d) another component attached to the cable and is configured to interact with a detection system to provide an indication that the first component has been moved in a certain manner to thereby allow monitoring of the at least one portable article to which the tethering system is operatively connected
Data Source
AI summary
A tethering system with an elongate cable. A first cable end is configured to be directed through a first article opening. Structure cooperates between the first cable end and a first blocking component and is configured to releasably fix the first cable end to the first blocking component. The first blocking component is configured so that the first blocking component will not pass through the first article opening. Structure cooperates between a second blocking component and cable and is configured to releasably fix the second blocking component to the cable at a location spaced from the first cable end with the cable directed through the second opening. The second blocking component is configured so that it will not pass, together with a portion of the cable to which the second blocking component is fixed, through the second article opening.