Rotatable Buckle Assembly with Recessed Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotating buckle assemblies have exposed central buttons that are prone to accidental engagement, material fatigue, and breakage, making them unreliable for secure connection and adjustment in applications like backpacks.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable buckle assembly design featuring a handle and insertion member with internal stud and arcuate edges, allowing for secure connection and disconnection by pulling the handle, and incorporating recessed lateral portions to limit movement and prevent over-pivoting, enhancing durability and user safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a circular button is used for connection and disconnection, then the buckle members can pivot or rotate, but the circular button is exposed and may be inadvertently engaged, causing accidental disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vulnerable circular button from the system and replaces it with a recessed stud and handle mechanism. The stud is hidden within the buckle body, and the handle provides a protected interface for disconnection, eliminating the exposed button that caused accidental engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The stud is nested within the buckle body rather than being exposed on the surface. The handle structure encompasses the stud, providing a protective housing that prevents inadvertent contact while maintaining the rotational function.
2Ease of operation
If a circular button is used for connection and disconnection, then the buckle members can pivot or rotate, but the circular button may be over-flexed, causing material fatigue and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the vulnerable circular button that was susceptible to over-flexing. The replacement stud-and-handle mechanism eliminates the flexible button component that experienced material fatigue, using instead a more robust structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed stud design provides inherent protection against over-flexing by constraining the movement within the recess. The handle mechanism provides a controlled disconnection path that prevents excessive force from being applied to the connection elements.
3Ease of operation
If a circular button is used for connection and disconnection, then the buckle members can pivot or rotate, but the circular button is susceptible to being broken away from the male buckle member
Solution Approach 1:
The stud is nested within the buckle body with the handle providing external access. This nested configuration protects the stud from direct impact and prevents it from breaking away, as it is surrounded and supported by the buckle structure rather than being exposed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional exposed button surface to a three-dimensional recessed structure with the handle extending outward. This dimensional change provides structural support around the stud while maintaining user access through the handle.
4Ease of operation
If the buckle members are allowed to pivot or rotate freely, then comfort and adjustment are improved, but the buckle assembly may abut into other objects and inadvertently engage the disconnection mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the exposed circular button that was the target of inadvertent engagement. The recessed stud and protected handle eliminate the vulnerability to accidental disconnection while preserving the rotational adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The buckle assembly maintains dynamic rotational capability for adjustment and comfort, but the disconnection interface is made static and protected through the recessed stud and handle design, creating a differentiated system where rotation is free but disconnection is controlled.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotatable buckle assembly may include a male buckle member, and a female buckle member configured to rotatably connect to the male buckle member. The female buckle member may include a handle that is configured to be pulled to disconnect the first buckle member from the second buckle member.