Protective Coat Throat Tab Retention With Dual Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective garments often have closures that are not sufficiently easy to operate and/or not durable enough for hazardous duty environments.
Innovation Solution
A coat system with a movable throat tab and a combination of non-magnetic and magnetic fastener systems to secure the tab in closed and retracted positions, utilizing aramid and polybenzamidazole materials for durability and a magnetic fastener system with rare earth magnets for ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional closures are used in protective garments, then the garment provides basic closure function, but the closure is not sufficiently easy to operate and/or not sufficiently durable for hazardous duty environments
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into multiple independent magnetic fastener components distributed along the garment edges. Each magnetic fastener unit operates independently, allowing partial closure or selective engagement of different sections, which improves ease of operation while maintaining overall system durability through distributed load bearing
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical closures (zippers, buttons, snaps) are replaced with magnetic fasteners that utilize magnetic attraction forces. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical moving parts that require precise alignment and manual manipulation, significantly improving ease of operation while the magnetic components are designed for durability in hazardous environments
2Ease of operation
If magnetic fasteners are used to secure the throat tab in retracted position, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic fastener system serves multiple functions: securing the throat tab in both closed and retracted positions, and potentially securing other garment components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate closure mechanisms, thereby improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic fasteners utilize adjustable magnetic field strengths and configurations to achieve different retention forces for different positions (closed vs. retracted). By changing magnetic parameters rather than using entirely different mechanisms, the system achieves improved ease of operation with minimal increase in complexity
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 system provides a durable and easy-to-operate closure system that maintains integrity under harsh conditions, ensuring secure retention of the throat tab and other garment components.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic fastener system configured to retain the throat tab in the retracted position
Data Source
AI summary
A coat system including a protective coat and a throat tab coupled to or forming a part of the coat. The throat tab is movable between a closed position wherein the throat tab is positioned to generally cover a front of a throat of a wearer of the coat, and a retracted position wherein the throat tab is not positioned to generally cover the front of the throat of the wearer. The coat system further includes a non-magnetic fastener system configured to retain the throat tab in the closed position, and a magnetic fastener system configured to retain the throat tab in the retracted position.