Segmented Carrying Belt Adjustment to Minimize Free Belt Ends

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carrying arrangements with adjustable belts on the body suffer from long free belt ends that become entangled or soiled, and the provision of receiving pockets increases production costs and reduces the ability to quickly adjust the length to fit the user's needs.

Innovation Solution

A carrying arrangement with at least three belt segments that allow for discrete and stepless adjustments, using a first belt segment adjustable in discrete increments relative to a second segment and a third segment adjustable steplessly, minimizing the length of free belt ends through a combination of discrete and stepless adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If receiving pockets are provided to store free belt ends, then the free belt ends are prevented from becoming entangled or soiled, but the production effort and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefree belt ends becoming entangled or soiledVSAvoidproduction effort and manufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The belt is divided into multiple segments (first belt segment, second belt segment, third belt segment) that can be adjusted relative to each other. This segmentation allows the free belt end to be minimized by adjusting the segments, eliminating the need for receiving pockets while preventing entanglement and soiling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The belt length is made dynamically adjustable through the relative movement of belt segments. The first belt segment can be adjusted in discrete increments relative to the second belt segment, and the third belt segment can be adjusted steplessly relative to the first or second belt segment, allowing the free belt end length to be minimized adaptively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If receiving pockets are provided to store free belt ends, then the free belt ends are prevented from becoming entangled or soiled, but the ability to quickly adjust the length is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefree belt ends becoming entangled or soiledVSAvoidability to quickly adjust the length

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The belt length is made dynamically adjustable through the relative movement of belt segments. The first belt segment can be adjusted in discrete increments relative to the second belt segment, and the third belt segment can be adjusted steplessly relative to the first or second belt segment, allowing the free belt end length to be minimized adaptively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The belt adjustment mechanism allows for changes in the length parameter through relative movement of belt segments. The combination of discrete increment adjustment (first relative to second segment) and stepless adjustment (third relative to first or second segment) provides flexible parameter control without requiring receiving pockets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the belt length is adjusted using traditional buckles, then the belt can be adapted to body size, but long free belt ends are formed that hang in the way of the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptation to body sizeVSAvoidlength of free belt ends

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The belt is divided into multiple segments (first belt segment, second belt segment, third belt segment) that can be adjusted relative to each other. This segmentation allows the free belt end to be minimized by adjusting the segments, eliminating the need for receiving pockets while preventing entanglement and soiling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The belt adjustment mechanism allows for changes in the length parameter through relative movement of belt segments. The combination of discrete increment adjustment (first relative to second segment) and stepless adjustment (third relative to first or second segment) provides flexible parameter control without requiring receiving pockets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12557899B2Carrying arrangement

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO KG

AI summary

A carrying arrangement for carrying loads, in particular tools and/or implements, includes at least one carrying belt, in particular a shoulder belt and/or a hip belt, on the body of a user. The length of the carrying belt is adjustable in order to be adapted to the body size of the user and/or the carrying situation. The carrying belt is formed from at least three belt segments which can be positioned relative to one another in order to adjust the length of the carrying belt. A first belt segment is adjustable in discrete increments relative to a second belt segment and a third belt segment is steplessly adjustable relative to the first belt segment and/or the second belt segment.