Rotatable Push-Button Fastener to Prevent Hook Breakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional push-type clip fasteners made of plastic materials are prone to breakage due to elastic deformation, and the male and female parts cannot rotate relative to each other, leading to uneven strap folding and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a first assembly with an engaging structure and a second assembly that includes an upper housing, a lower housing, a button, a fixing set, and a stopper, allowing for relative rotation and engagement without relying on elastic deformation, using stronger materials for the fixing set and enabling 360-degree rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hook is made of plastic material to enable elastic deformation for fastening, then the fastening function is achieved, but the hook has a high risk of breakage after long-term operations or collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into two separate assemblies: a first assembly containing the engaging structure and a second assembly containing the fixing set with first and second fixing members. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the fixing members can be made of stronger materials while the engaging structure provides the necessary engagement function, thereby reducing hook breakage risk while maintaining fastening capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different materials for different components - the fixing members can be made of metal or stronger composite materials to resist breakage, while the engaging structure uses appropriate materials for its function. This composite material approach allows the system to achieve both the elastic deformation capability needed for fastening and the strength needed to prevent breakage
2Ease of operation
If the button position is matched with the hook and groove to achieve fastening, then the fastening function is achieved, but the male and female parts cannot be relatively rotated, causing the strap to be folded and have uneven parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic rotation mechanism between the first and second assemblies. The fixing members are designed to allow relative rotation around the second axis while maintaining engagement with the engaging structure. This dynamic capability enables the male and female parts to rotate relative to each other to match the pulling direction of the strap, preventing folding and uneven parts while maintaining the fastening function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a rotational degree of freedom (second axis perpendicular to the first axis) to the fastening system. This dimensional addition allows the fixing members to rotate around the second axis while maintaining engagement along the first axis, enabling the strap to align with the pulling direction and eliminating the constraint that caused folding and uneven parts
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener includes a first assembly and a second assembly detachably connected to each other. The second assembly includes an upper housing, a lower housing, a button, a fixing set and a stopper. The fixing set includes a first fixing member and a second fixing member and is adapted to engage with an engaging structure of the first assembly. The stopper is connected to the button to limit the engagement of the fixing set and the engaging structure. When the button moves along a first axis, the button drives the stopper to move to release the engagement of the fixing set and the engaging structure. Then, when the first assembly moves away from the second assembly, the engaging structure causes the first fixing member and the second fixing member approaching each other along a second axis, until the fixing set is separated from the engaging structure.