Pinch Resistant Helmet Buckle With Segmented Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-piece buckles can form pinch zones that potentially pinch or trap fingers or skin, especially in safety-critical applications like helmets, where mitigating these pinch zones remains a design challenge despite existing advancements.
Innovation Solution
The buckle design incorporates a female buckle component with a second plate spaced apart from a first plate, featuring a pinch-mitigating feature that maintains a distance between the pinch zone and the user, achieved through a thickness difference between the interior and exterior surfaces or a wall of material around the perimeter, which can be angled to prevent skin interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If two-piece buckle components are designed to snap together for automatic latching, then ease of operation is improved, but pinch zones are created that reduce safety
Solution Approach 1:
A webbing strap is introduced as an intermediary element between the male and female buckle components. The webbing prevents direct contact between the pinch zone and user skin, allowing the buckle to maintain its snap-together functionality while eliminating the harmful pinching effect. The webbing acts as a mediator that transmits the fastening force without creating dangerous pinch points.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the female buckle component uses a thick second plate to mitigate pinch zones, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The female buckle component is segmented into two distinct plates: a first plate that interfaces with the male component and a second plate that contacts the user. This segmentation allows each plate to be optimized for its specific function - the first plate for mechanical engagement and the second plate for user comfort and safety - while maintaining overall structural simplicity through the use of standard molding techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a buckle assembly having a female buckle component and a male buckle component. The female buckle component including a first plate and a second plate that is spaced apart from the first plate and is connected to the first plate via a first side and a second side. Each of the first side and the second side is configured to secure a button of the male buckle component. The second plate includes a pinch-mitigating feature to maintain a distance between a pinch zone and a user. The pinch-mitigating feature can integrated with the second plate. For example, the second plate can define a wall of material formed at least partially about a perimeter of the second plate to maintain the distance between the pinch zone and the user.