Removable Button Cap Assembly with Rotating Lock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing button assemblies are permanently fixed to materials, making it difficult for consumers to replace or customize buttons without disassembling the entire assembly, limiting user flexibility and increasing manufacturing costs for customized designs.

Innovation Solution

A button assembly with a top assembly, attachment body, and resilient member, where the top assembly is selectively engageable with the attachment body by aligning protrusions and notched portions, allowing for easy removal and replacement of the top assembly while maintaining the attachment body's functionality as a fastener.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the button is permanently fixed to the material by assembling the button body and fastener together, then the button remains securely attached and functions reliably, but the button cannot be removed or replaced without completely disassembling the entire button assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton attachment securityVSAvoidbutton removal and replacement ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The button assembly is divided into two separable parts: a button body (with cosmetic features) and a fastener (with functional features). The button body can be detached from the fastener through the material, allowing replacement of just the button body while leaving the fastener attached to the material. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling easy button replacement while maintaining secure attachment through the persistent fastener.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the entire button assembly is customized for different designs, then unique button appearances can be achieved, but manufacturing costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton design customizationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the button into a button body and fastener that can be independently attached and detached, the system allows customization of only the button body rather than the entire assembly. This reduces manufacturing costs because the fastener (which requires precise functional features) can be produced once and reused, while only the cosmetic button body needs to be customized for different designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastener component serves as a universal base that can work with multiple different button body designs. The standardized fastener interface allows various button bodies to be attached to the same fastener, enabling design versatility without requiring custom manufacturing of the entire button assembly for each design variant.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If consumers are unable to remove and change buttons, then the button assembly structure remains simple and reliable, but user flexibility and customization capability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser customization capabilityVSAvoidbutton assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The button assembly is segmented into a button body and fastener that can be separated through the material. This allows consumers to remove and replace button bodies independently, providing user flexibility and customization capability. The segmentation adds minimal complexity by introducing a simple detachment mechanism while enabling significant user control over button appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables easy customization and replacement of button designs, reduces manufacturing costs by allowing only the top assembly to be customized, and ensures the attachment body can still function as a button even when the top assembly is removed.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient member between the top assembly and the attachment body such that the top assembly is movable toward the attachment body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResilient member biasing: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS10925352B2Button assembly with removable cap

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 YKK CORP

AI summary

A button assembly includes a top assembly, an attachment body, and a resilient member. The top assembly includes a cap and a locking ring defining a receiving area, and the locking ring includes a top protrusion extending into the receiving area. The attachment body includes a locking feature that includes a body protrusion and a notched portion. The resilient member is located between the cap and the attachment body such that the cap is movable toward the attachment body. In some examples, the top assembly is selectively engageable with the attachment body by aligning the top protrusion of the locking ring with the notched portion of the locking feature, pushing the top assembly toward the attachment body, and rotating the top assembly relative to the attachment body such that the top protrusion of the locking ring is aligned with the body protrusion of the locking feature.