Incremental Reel Closure Mechanism for Controlled Lace Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional closure devices for articles like shoes and medical braces lack the ability to adjust tension incrementally, often requiring full loosening and re-tightening, which can lead to discomfort and inefficiency, and may result in accidental over-tensioning or damage to the lace and internal components.
Innovation Solution
A closure system featuring a reel with a spool and knob mechanism that allows incremental tightening and loosening of tension, including a stop mechanism to prevent excessive loosening beyond a tension threshold, enabling precise adjustment of lace tension without fully releasing it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional closure devices are used, then the article can be closed and secured, but the tension cannot be adjusted incrementally requiring full loosening and re-tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device incorporates a dynamic reel mechanism with a spool that can rotate to incrementally release or tighten the tension member. The pawl and ratchet teeth provide controlled incremental movement, allowing the tension to be adjusted in small steps rather than requiring complete loosening and re-tightening, thus improving ease of operation and reducing adjustment time.
2Reliability
If conventional closure devices are used, then the article can be secured, but accidental over-tensioning or damage to lace and internal components may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a feedback mechanism through the pawl and ratchet teeth that automatically prevent over-tensioning. When the tension member becomes overly tight, the pawl disengages from the ratchet teeth, allowing the spool to rotate freely and release excess tension. This automatic feedback control protects against damage without requiring complex electronic sensors or control systems.
3Measurement precision
If incremental release mechanism is added, then precise tension adjustment is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reel mechanism is segmented into discrete components: the spool for winding the tension member, the pawl for engagement, the ratchet teeth for incremental positioning, and the spring for maintaining tension. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function simply and reliably, achieving precise tension adjustment through the coordinated action of these straightforward mechanical elements rather than through a complex integrated system.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.