Rotating Plug Fastener With Spring Retention Against Twist

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fasteners for attaching and detaching straps from articles often suffer from insufficient attachment strength and accidental detachment due to external forces causing the plug to incline, leading to a twist between the article and the strap.

Innovation Solution

A fastener design featuring a plug with a rotating body and a socket equipped with a spring and supports that press the plug against a stop, ensuring secure attachment while allowing rotation to prevent twist, and a cover that integrates with the socket body for enhanced stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the plug is configured to be rotatable with respect to the socket to suppress twist, then the twist between article and strap is suppressed, but the plug may come off accidentally when receiving unintended external force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetwist suppressionVSAvoidattachment strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The plug is designed to be rotatable within the socket to dynamically adjust and suppress twist between the article and strap. This dynamic capability allows the plug to rotate and accommodate angular misalignment, preventing twist accumulation while maintaining secure attachment through the spring-loaded pressing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded pressing portion applies a preliminary pressing force to the plug, creating a pre-compression that counteracts unintended external forces before they can cause accidental detachment. This preliminary anti-action ensures the plug remains securely held in the socket even when subjected to lateral or rotational forces during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If a magnet is used for the socket to guide and hold the plug, then attachment and detachment are easy, but the plug may come off accidentally when receiving unintended external force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment and detachment easeVSAvoidattachment strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic holding mechanism is replaced with a spring-loaded mechanical pressing system. The spring-loaded pressing portion provides reliable mechanical retention through elastic force, eliminating the accidental detachment issue associated with magnetic holders while maintaining ease of operation through the same insertion and extraction motions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the plug is held loosely in the socket to allow rotation, then twist is suppressed, but sufficient attachment strength cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetwist suppressionVSAvoidattachment strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The plug is designed to be rotatable within the socket to dynamically adjust and suppress twist between the article and strap. This dynamic capability allows the plug to rotate and accommodate angular misalignment, preventing twist accumulation while maintaining secure attachment through the spring-loaded pressing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded pressing portion applies a preliminary pressing force to the plug, creating a pre-compression that counteracts unintended external forces before they can cause accidental detachment. This preliminary anti-action ensures the plug remains securely held in the socket even when subjected to lateral or rotational forces during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 fastener provides sufficient attachment strength and prevents twist between the article and the strap, while being environmentally friendly and cost-effective due to resin molding, with improved manufacturing efficiency and reduced risk of accidental detachment.

Implementation Method 1

a spring that includes a pair of ends arranged side by side in the axial direction and that faces, on one side in a thickness direction orthogonal to the axial direction, the housing space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the spring including, between the pair of ends, a pressing portion that presses the plug disposed in the housing space against the stop

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250102003A1fastener

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 YKK CORP

AI summary

A fastener includes a plug having a shape of a rotating body and a socket into which the plug is inserted in an axial direction. The socket includes a strap attachment portion to which a strap is to be attached and a socket body that forms a housing space in which the plug is disposed. The socket body includes a spring that includes a pair of ends arranged side by side in the axial direction and that faces, on one side in a thickness direction orthogonal to the axial direction, the housing space; a pair of supports that each support a corresponding one of the pair of ends of the spring; and a stop that faces, on the other side in the thickness direction, the housing space. The spring includes, between the pair of ends, a pressing portion that presses the plug disposed in the housing space against the stop.