Omni-directional locking fastener with spheroidal tongue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional locking fasteners, such as those in vehicle seat belts, require precise lateral alignment and dexterity to engage, making them inconvenient for users with limited dexterity or vision.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical tongue with a rounded spheroidal tip and a funnel-shaped clasp opening allows the tongue to be inserted without precise directional alignment, featuring a spring-loaded hook mechanism and a pivoting design with a non-directional handle for intuitive engagement and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional locking fastener design is used, then the locking mechanism is secure, but it requires precise lateral alignment and dexterity to engage
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue is designed with a rounded spheroidal tip instead of a flat or directional shape, allowing it to be inserted into the funnel-shaped clasp opening from any lateral orientation. This spherical geometry eliminates the need for precise alignment while maintaining secure locking through the spring-loaded hook mechanism that engages once the tongue passes through the funnel opening.
2Productivity
If precise alignment is required for engagement, then the locking mechanism engages securely, but it increases engagement time and reduces accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel-shaped opening in the clasp is designed to pre-guide and accommodate the tongue from any orientation, eliminating the need for precise alignment adjustments during engagement. The tongue's rounded tip is pre-shaped to fit this funnel, allowing users to quickly insert the tongue without spending time on alignment, while the spring-loaded hooks automatically engage once the tongue passes through the funnel opening.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the tongue is rigidly fixed, then the locking position is stable, but it cannot alleviate torsional stress between connected parts
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue is designed with pivoting capability within the clasp, allowing it to rotate slightly around its longitudinal axis while maintaining the locked position. This dynamic feature enables the tongue to alleviate torsional stress between connected parts by absorbing rotational forces through pivoting, while the spring-loaded hooks maintain stable locking engagement.
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 faster and more accessible locking and unlocking for users of all dexterity levels, enhancing usability and lock strength by alleviating torsional stress through pivoting, while allowing easy disengagement with a simple button push.
Implementation Method 1
an active spheroidal-tip tongue with spring-loaded hooks protruding near its tip
Implementation Method 2
a set of blade springs which are positioned to hold the latching bars in latching position
Implementation Method 3
a set of release keys connected to a release button with a spring over the insertion channel to be compressed by the user for pushing the release keys and move the latching bars apart to release and unlatch the tongue
Data Source
AI summary
An accessibility-enhanced instant locking fastener system comprising of a cylindrical tongue and a catch with funnel-shaped opening, enabling easy insertion and pushing for locking, without precise alignment or directional orientation. The omni-directional locking clasp system, a typical use of which may be for seat belt buckling systems, are configured so that the once the tip of the tongue meets the opening of the hole in the clasp, latching can be accomplished by simply pushing the tongue into the funnel-shaped opening without the necessity to precise directional alignment unlike the flat tongue plates of locking buckles typically found in conventional seat belt harnesses.