Pet Wearable Extender with Elastic Segment for Size Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet products, such as diapers and belly bands, often lack sufficient adjustability to fit animals of varying sizes, leading to discomfort and poor fit, especially for pets that fall between standard size ranges.
Innovation Solution
A pet band extender featuring a first and second fastener portion with a stretchable portion in between, allowing the extender to extend the length of the pet product by engaging existing fasteners, thereby accommodating different pet sizes and ensuring a comfortable fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pet products are made with fixed sizes, then manufacturing is simpler and costs are lower, but the products cannot fit pets of varying sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The extender is designed as a separate modular component that attaches to existing pet products. This segmentation allows the base product to remain simple while the extender provides size adjustment capability, resolving the contradiction between fit range and product complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The extender acts as an intermediary component between the pet product and the pet's body. It mediates the size mismatch by providing additional length and adjustability, allowing a single product design to fit multiple pet sizes without requiring multiple product variants
2Adaptability or versatility
If pet products are made larger to fit bigger pets, then bigger pets can be accommodated, but smaller pets cannot use the same product
Solution Approach 1:
The extender incorporates elastic material that provides dynamic adjustment capability. The elastic portion stretches and contracts to accommodate different pet sizes and body shapes, allowing the same product to adapt to various pets without requiring manual adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The extender changes the effective length parameter of the pet product by adding its own length between the product's fasteners. This parameter extension allows the original product to fit larger pets while the elastic portion provides additional adaptability for different body shapes
3Ease of operation
If non-stretchable material is used for the extender, then the structure is simpler, but the pet cannot move comfortably
Solution Approach 1:
The extender uses composite material construction combining elastic material with fastening components (hooks, loops, snaps). This composite approach provides both the comfort of stretchability and the functionality of secure attachment, resolving the contradiction between comfort and structural simplicity
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 extender allows pet products to fit a wider range of animal sizes, ensuring the product remains secure and comfortable, allowing for movement without causing discomfort due to tightening.
Implementation Method 1
The stretchable portion may include an elastic material located proximate to a center of the extender
Data Source
AI summary
An extender for securing an article around a pet, the extender including: a first fastener portion located proximate a first end of the extender, the first fastener portion located on a first side of the extender; and a second fastener portion located proximate a second end of the extender, the second fastener portion located on a second side of the extender. The first fastener portion is shaped to engage a first fastener of the article and the second fastener portion is shaped to engage a second fastener of the article such that a length of the article is extended by a length of the extender between the first fastener portion and the second fastener portion.