Resilient Clip Assembly With Rotational Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clips for mounting safety gear and tools on belts or clothing lack a simple, economical, and reliable mechanism for secure yet easy release, which is crucial for workers in hazardous environments.
Innovation Solution
A resilient double-ended clip assembly with openable opposed jaws, a bridged back end, and rotational freedom, featuring a slot and a post with a spherical head, allowing for secure attachment and easy release under axial force, constructed from injection molded plastic with cross-bracing for enhanced gripping strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing clips use simple construction for mounting articles on belts, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the reliability of secure attachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bridged back end is segmented into a pair of juxtaposed arcuate links that can flex independently, allowing the clip to maintain structural integrity while providing controlled flexibility for secure attachment and easy release
Solution Approach 2:
The clip transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system where the arcuate links can flex and the spherical head can rotate within the slot, enabling both secure attachment during use and easy release when needed
2Device complexity
If existing clips use simple construction, then device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for release deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical head on the post provides rotational freedom within the slot, allowing the second clip to rotate and detach easily from the first clip with a simple twisting motion, greatly improving ease of release
Solution Approach 2:
The slot width is designed to be slightly larger than the spherical head diameter, creating a clearance that allows free rotation and easy removal while maintaining secure attachment during normal use
3Ease of operation
If the slot width is reduced to tightly fit the post head, then rotational freedom is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The slot width is deliberately designed to be slightly larger than the spherical head diameter, creating a clearance fit that provides rotational freedom while being easy to manufacture with standard tolerances
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 clip assembly provides secure attachment and easy release of articles, ensuring safety gear and tools are readily accessible while minimizing manufacturing costs and reducing the risk of snagging, with enhanced gripping strength and operational clearances.
Implementation Method 1
each of said finger gripping portions being sufficiently resilient such that when pressed together by the fingers of an operator, said jaw portions will open and when released will be biased toward an abutted condition
Implementation Method 2
the bridged back end of the resilient clip member is formed from a pair of juxtaposed arcuate links, a slot being defined between the links, said slot extending across the bridged back end and partway down the finger gripping portions, said slot having width dimension and being for receiving a post having an enlarged generally spherical head, the head of the post having a diameter which is slightly greater than the width of the slot the pair of juxtaposed arcuate links resilently separating sufficiently to permit passage of the head of the post
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A clip assembly is disclosed in which the clip ends have rotational freedom and limited radial freedom. The clip assembly comprises a first resilient clip member and a second resilient clip member, each having an opposed jaw end and a bridged back end. The first resilient clip member further defines a slot extending across the bridged back end. The second resilient clip member defines a post having an enlarged spherical head extending longitudinally from the bridged back end. The head of the post has a diameter which is slightly greater than the width of the slot. The second chip member is connected to the first clip member for rotational freedom of movement around the longitudinal axis of the clip by receipt of the spherical head through the slot.