Automatic Safety Spring Clip for Rapid Pet Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional spring clips are difficult to release during traction due to their size and design, which makes it hard to manage sudden animal movements, and require manual operation that can be challenging when coupling or decoupling with an agitated pet.

Innovation Solution

A compact automatic safety spring clip with buttons that allow immediate release during tension, featuring elastic means and a locking mechanism for secure operation, enabling easy coupling and release even under difficult conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional spring clips are made large in size to facilitate manual operation, then ease of operation during coupling is improved, but the ability to release quickly during traction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of coupling operationVSAvoidrelease speed during traction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The spring clip is divided into functionally independent components: a body for coupling, a pin for locking, and a button for release. This segmentation allows the button to be positioned for easy access during traction while maintaining the overall coupling functionality, resolving the contradiction between ease of coupling and speed of release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The button acts as an intermediary release mechanism that can be operated independently of the main body manipulation. This intermediary element enables quick release during traction without requiring the user to manipulate the entire coupling mechanism, thus improving release speed while maintaining ease of coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional spring clips require manual manipulation of the pin for release, then reliability of locking is improved, but ease of operation during sudden movements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidease of release during sudden movements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-loaded pin automatically performs the locking function without user intervention, ensuring reliable locking. For release, the button provides a simple self-service mechanism that can be operated with one hand during sudden movements, resolving the contradiction between locking reliability and ease of release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The release function is extracted from the pin manipulation and assigned to a separate button mechanism. This extraction allows the pin to focus on reliable locking while the button provides easy operation during sudden movements, eliminating the need for complex manual pin manipulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the spring clip uses a hook shape for coupling, then adaptability to collars is improved, but difficulty of release during traction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to collar shapesVSAvoidease of release during traction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling mechanism is segmented into the hook-shaped body for adaptability and a separate button-pin system for release. This segmentation allows the hook to maintain its adaptive shape while the button provides easy release operation during traction, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 spring clip facilitates safe and rapid coupling and release operations, even when the animal is pulling or moving, by allowing manual operation with buttons and a locking mechanism, enhancing user safety and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

The pin has elastic loading means designed to hold it in the closed position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3193591B1Automatic safety spring clip with rapid coupling and release
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 FERPLAST SRL
  • EP3193591B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3193591B1 patent drawingFigure 6~10
  • EP3193591B1 patent drawingFigure 11~15

AI summary

Described is an automatic safety spring clip with rapid coupling and release consisting of a main body (33) which on one side presents means of fixing to a ring (31) connectable to a cable or a cord or similar and on the other side is equipped with a fork-shaped "invite" area defined by appendices (34, 35) which allow the rapid centring of the spring clip on the object to be coupled. The spring clip comprises a first element (36) one end of which is shaped like a hook (37) which interferes in the "invite" area of the main body, the first element being mobile and rotating around a pin (38) restrained to the main body (33); the first element (36) is equipped with a housing (42) in proximity to the pin (38), and a second element (41), or operating button, opposite the pervious element with respect to the longitudinal centreline of the main body (33), mobile and rotating around a second pin (40) restrained to the main body (33), the second element being placed in elastic contrast (39) and provided with a mechanical profile consisting of a tooth (43) which interacts with the housing (42) of the first element (36) in order to move the latter from an open position to a closed position and vice versa, the second element thus taking on the role of a lever control with respect to the first element.