Retractable Attachment Housing with Swivel-Reducing Female Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick release connectors for personal use suffer from premature wear of the tensile member due to swivel motion when retracting and deploying items, and existing locking mechanisms are complex, costly, and prone to malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A portable releasable attachment apparatus with a retractable unit featuring a housing with a female opening to minimize swivel action, a locking switch to control reel rotation, and a fastener with a U-shaped member for secure attachment and detachment, reducing wear and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If items are allowed to swivel freely on the tensile member during retraction and deployment, then ease of operation is improved, but wear on the tensile member increases prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
A swivel mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the items and the tensile member. This swivel allows controlled rotation to facilitate easy attachment and detachment of items while minimizing uncontrolled swivel motion that would cause wear on the tensile member during retraction and deployment operations.
2Reliability
If complex locking mechanisms with multiple moving parts are used to control reel rotation, then reliability of locking is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is simplified by removing unnecessary moving parts and complex components. The design extracts only the essential locking function, using a minimal number of components to achieve reliable locking and release of the reel, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining locking reliability.
3Strength
If helical metal rings are used for attachment, then strength of attachment is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in opening and sliding items
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using traditional helical metal rings that require prying open, the invention inverts the approach by using a swivel mechanism with a opening that allows items to be easily inserted and attached. This inverted design maintains secure attachment strength while dramatically improving ease of operation for attaching and detaching items.
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 apparatus minimizes swivel motion, reduces wear on the tensile member, and provides a simple, cost-effective locking mechanism for secure and easy attachment/detachment of items, enhancing durability and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a spring coil biasing rotation of the reel
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
AI summary
A releasable attachment apparatus has multiple components that allow for storage, deployment and detachment of small portable items carried on the apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a retractable unit having a housing inside of which are a reel, a spring coil biasing rotation of the reel, and a tensile member carried on the reel. The housing has a female opening that fittingly receives a connector to reduce swivel action in the connector and reduce strain on the tensile member when the tensile member is fully retracted in drawing the connector to a stored configuration with the retractable unit. The apparatus includes a fastener that is adapted to carry the small portable items and is removably attached to the connector. The apparatus includes a locking switch which is movable between a neutral position that allows rotation of the reel and a locking position which locks the reel against rotation.