Radial-Seam Rope Loop With Offset Stitching for Low-Bulk Ends

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rope termination methods, such as knots, folds, and splices, are cumbersome, costly, and result in bulk at the end of the rope, making them unsuitable for confined spaces like pruning, and the integration of a strap often leads to non-homogeneous seams and increased size.

Innovation Solution

A rope design featuring a core and sheath with a strap partially or fully covering the sheath, secured by wires passing through a central section of the core and sheath, forming angularly offset connections to create a compact and secure loop, and a method for producing this rope by covering the sheath with a strap and fixing it using wires that repeatedly pass through the core and sheath.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a strap is used to form a loop at the end of the rope, then the ease of operation is improved, but the volume of the rope end increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidbulk at rope end
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The strap is integrated within the rope structure itself, with the strap material forming part of the rope's construction. The strap is positioned within the sheath and secured to the core, nesting the loop-forming element within the rope's existing volume rather than adding external bulk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The strap is merged with the rope structure by integrating it into the sheath and securing it to the core. The stitching elements combine the strap, sheath, and core into a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate strap components that would increase volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple lines of stitching are made perpendicular to the rope axis to secure the strap, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidstitching complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making multiple perpendicular stitching lines across the entire strap width, the invention uses longitudinal stitching lines that run parallel to the rope axis. This inverts the traditional stitching approach, securing the strap along its length rather than across its width, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the seam between the strap and sheath-core assembly is made larger to achieve homogeneous fixation, then the reliability is improved, but the volume of the rope end increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation homogeneityVSAvoidrope end size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The stitching is concentrated in specific local zones where the strap interfaces with the sheath and core. Rather than distributing stitching uniformly across a large area, the invention applies stitching at critical local positions, achieving homogeneous fixation through targeted local reinforcement rather than extensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4137214B1Rope with radial seam and manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 ZEDEL CORP
  • EP4137214B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4137214B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~5

AI summary

A rope (1) comprises a core (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and a sheath (3) surrounding the core (2), the sheath (3) extending along the longitudinal axis (A). A webbing (4) at least partially encircles the sheath (3), the webbing (4) being separated from the core (2) by the sheath (3). At least one thread (5) passes several times through the webbing (4), the sheath (3), and the core (2) to form several links that securely attach the webbing (4) to the core (2) and the sheath (3). The links pass through a central section of the core (2), the central section being a circular cross-section representing less than 50% of the cross-section of the core (2). The links are angularly offset from one another when viewed along the longitudinal axis (A).