Retention Spring Sling Bar for One-Handed Loop Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sling bars require two-handed operation for attaching sling loops, preventing caregivers from steadying the subject during the process and creating potential entanglement issues.
Innovation Solution
The sling bar design incorporates strap guide slots and retention springs that allow one-handed attachment of sling loops, using gravity and spring bias to facilitate secure coupling without entanglement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional latch mechanism is used on the sling bar, then the sling attachment portion can be secured, but the caregiver must use both hands to manipulate the latch while attaching the sling loop
Solution Approach 1:
The sling loop itself serves as the actuating mechanism by engaging with the retention spring. When the sling loop is inserted through the strap guide slot, its own movement and tension automatically compress the retention spring and trigger the latch to close, securing the attachment without requiring manual manipulation of the latch mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention spring acts as an intermediary between the sling loop and the latch mechanism. The spring translates the simple insertion motion of the sling loop into the complex sequence of latch opening, closing, and locking actions, mediating the interaction between the user and the security mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the sling loop is freely movable during attachment, then the attachment process is simple, but the sling loop may become entangled in the latch mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment path is segmented into distinct zones: the strap guide slot provides a guided insertion path that prevents random movement, while the retention spring occupies a specific engagement zone that controls where the sling loop interacts with the latch mechanism, preventing entanglement by restricting movement to predetermined paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention spring serves as a mediator that controls and channels the movement of the sling loop. By positioning and constraining the spring within the strap guide slot, the system guides the sling loop through a controlled path that avoids entanglement with other components while maintaining attachment simplicity.
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 one-handed secure attachment of sling loops, reducing the risk of entanglement and allowing caregivers to stabilize the subject during the process.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing mechanism coupled to the retention latch to force the retention latch towards the closed position
Implementation Method 2
using gravity and spring bias to facilitate secure coupling without entanglement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A sling bar 100 includes a first bar portion, a first receiving aperture 122, a first strap guide slot 130, and a first retention spring 150. The first bar portion has a first upper surface 124. The first receiving aperture is disposed within the first bar portion. The first strap guide slot 130 is disposed within the first bar portion and extends from the first upper surface 124 to the first receiving aperture 122. The first strap guide slot is defined by a first lower slot surface 134 and a first upper slot surface 144. The first retention spring is disposed within the first strap guide slot and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The first retention spring is extended toward the first upper slot surface when in the closed position and is retracted toward the first lower slot surface when in the open position. The first retention spring is biased to the closed position.