Orthopedic Strap Attachment System with Pivoting Tab
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional strap attachment systems for orthopedic devices often cause skin irritation due to frictional interfaces and fail to pivot with the user's movement, leading to migration and pressure points, and lack flexibility in anchoring, which results in discomfort and poor fit.
Innovation Solution
The strap attachment system includes a frame member with an opening, a strap, and a tab with a fastener element that is detachably and slidably mounted to the frame, allowing for pivoting and adjustment, eliminating the need for tools and providing an anchor point with or without a friction interface, and can be used with pads having little or no friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high friction interface is used to prevent migration, then migration is reduced, but skin irritation increases due to excessive rubbing and shear forces
Solution Approach 1:
A low-friction liner material is introduced as an intermediary between the high-friction interface and the skin. This liner reduces direct skin irritation while the underlying high-friction interface maintains migration prevention. The liner acts as a mediator that decouples the conflicting requirements of friction-based security and skin comfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a softer liner with less friction is used to reduce skin irritation, then skin irritation is reduced, but migration increases due to reduced friction
Solution Approach 1:
The interface system is segmented into two distinct functional layers: a low-friction liner layer in direct contact with the skin for comfort, and a high-friction interface layer beneath it for migration prevention. This segmentation allows each layer to independently fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
3Device complexity
If the strap is fixed in location to simplify attachment, then device complexity is reduced, but user comfort deteriorates due to inability to pivot with limb movement
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system transitions from a fixed, static connection to a dynamic, movable connection. The strap attachment includes a tab that can slide within an opening and pivot relative to the frame member, allowing the attachment point to adapt dynamically to limb movement while maintaining secure fastening. This dynamic capability enables the strap to conform to changing anatomical positions without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If the strap anchor is repositioned to avoid pressure points, then user comfort is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for multiple attachment locations
Solution Approach 1:
The frame member is designed with multiple openings that can serve universal attachment purposes. A single strap attachment system can be positioned at different locations by selecting different openings, allowing the same attachment mechanism to fulfill multiple positioning functions. This multi-functionality enables pressure point avoidance without requiring different attachment mechanisms for each location.
Data Source
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AI summary
A strap attachment system including a frame member (26) having an opening (28), a strap (80), a tab (10) having an attachment element (50, 52) defined by the body (12), and a fastener element (30, 60) detachably and slidably mountable to the frame member (26) via the opening (28). The tab (10) connects to the strap (80), and the fastener element (30, 60) removably connecting to the tab (10) by the attachment element (50, 52). The fastener element (30, 60) defines upper and lower portions (36, 62, 38, 68) with the lower portion (38, 68) arranged to abut a lower surface (29) of the frame member (26), and the upper portion (38, 68) extending over a second surface (31) of the tab body (12). The tab (10) secures between the upper portion (38, 68) and the frame member within the clearance (33). A method for securing a strap to a frame member may use the components of the strap attachment system.