Releasable Retaining Clip With Teardrop Loop And Locking Collar
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retaining clips and straps struggle to securely attach items to belts without requiring special tools, are difficult to release with one hand, and fail to support the weight of carried items due to lack of rigidity and grip.
Innovation Solution
A releasable retaining clip with a flat loop structure featuring a teardrop-shaped bend, parallel legs, longitudinal slats, locking members, and a pivotable locking collar that allows for easy attachment and detachment while maintaining rigidity to grip the belt, ensuring secure and adjustable mounting of items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a substantially circular shaped loop is used, then the strap can be easily formed and manufactured, but it is difficult to secure to a belt so that it lies flat against the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a circular loop to a flat loop configuration with a teardrop-shaped bend. This geometric change allows the loop to lie flat against the user's body when secured to a belt, eliminating the protruding nature of circular loops while maintaining structural integrity and ease of formation.
2Ease of operation
If most clips are made non-rigid and flexible, then they can be easily attached by being fed behind the belt and squeezed shut, but they do not bite or grip the belt so they fail to support the weight of the item
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the clip. The clip body is made rigid to provide gripping strength and support weight, while the attachment mechanism incorporates flexible elements that allow the clip to be squeezed shut for easy attachment. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between ease of attachment and gripping strength.
3Reliability
If a special tool or complex release method is used, then the strap can be securely locked, but it is awkward and difficult to release with one hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a release mechanism that is activated by the user's own thumb or finger pressure on a release tab or button. This self-service mechanism allows the user to easily release the clip with one hand without requiring special tools or complex procedures, while still maintaining secure locking when engaged.
Data Source
AI summary
A clip for securing articles to a belt with a semi-flexible central tear drop shaped bend portion having opposite spaced apart ends; an upper leg and a longer lower leg comprised of a rigid or semi-rigid material and connected to the opposite spaced apart ends of the central portion and extending in a generally parallel relationship therefrom; and a locking collar member operable to either attach only to the end of the longer lower leg in a first open position or attach to both legs in a second closed position.