Self-tightening Strap with Elastomeric Cushion for Tubular Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-tightening holding straps for all-terrain vehicles fail to provide a high coefficient of friction and secure grip on tubular frames, especially when subjected to lateral forces and vehicle flexing, leading to inadequate retention of cargo and covers.
Innovation Solution
The use of hook and loop fasteners combined with an elastomeric cushion that conforms to textured surfaces, along with a tightening clasp, to create a self-tightening holding strap that provides increased gripping forces and a nearly 360-degree wrap around the pole, ensuring secure attachment and retention of cargo and covers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple strap is used to secure cargo on tubular frames, then the device complexity is reduced, but the gripping force and retention reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The holding strap uses a composite structure combining an elastomeric cushion material with a friction-enhancing inner surface. This composite material design provides both the necessary gripping force through high friction and the retention reliability under lateral forces, while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the friction parameter by incorporating an inner surface with a high coefficient of friction. This parameter change allows the strap to generate sufficient gripping force on the tubular frame without requiring complex mechanical fastening mechanisms, thus improving retention reliability while keeping device complexity low.
2Force
If a strap with low friction surface is used, then the ease of operation for installation and removal is improved, but the gripping force under lateral forces is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The holding strap applies local quality by having different surface characteristics on different sides. The inner surface facing the tubular frame has a high coefficient of friction to maximize gripping force under lateral forces, while the outer surface maintains ease of operation for installation and removal. This localized differentiation of surface properties resolves the contradiction between gripping force and ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the strap location on the pole is fixed, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability to different positions and repositioning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holding strap incorporates dynamic characteristics by allowing the strap to be easily repositioned along the tubular frame. The high-friction inner surface maintains secure gripping at any position, while the overall design enables the strap to be moved and reconfigured as needed. This dynamic repositioning capability is achieved without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
4Reliability
If a strap without elastomeric cushion is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the coefficient of friction and gripping force are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The holding strap uses a composite material structure where an elastomeric cushion is integrated with a high-friction inner surface. This composite design provides enhanced gripping force and secure retention under lateral forces while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece strap construction, thus improving grip security without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 solution enhances the coefficient of friction and gripping forces, allowing for secure attachment and retention of cargo and covers on all-terrain vehicles, even under lateral forces and vehicle flexing, thereby improving safety and comfort during off-road use.
Implementation Method 1
The elastomeric cushion increases the coefficient of friction for the self-tightening holding strap onto the pole
Implementation Method 2
use hook and loop fasteners to hold the strap onto a tubular pipe
Implementation Method 3
The tightening clasp allows an installer to increase the hoop force of the self-tightening holding strap onto the tube
Data Source
AI summary
Improvements in a self-tightening holding strap that grips onto a tube. The strap uses an elastomeric cushion with hook and loop fasteners to hold the strap onto a tubular pipe. The hook and loop fasteners allows the self-tightening holding strap to be easily installed, removed and repositioned where desired. The elastomeric cushion conforms around a textured or powder coated surface to increase the gripping forces. The elastomeric cushion can expand slightly as forces increase but retain the high grip. A tightening clasp allows an installer to pull from only one side of the self-tightening holding strap with one or both hands and using the elastomeric cushion to prevent the self-tightening holding strap from sliding on the pole. The self-tightening holding strap to be sewn onto a cover, canopy or strap.