Side-Release Buckle Cam Surfaces for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tracy type side-release buckles face limitations in carrying heavy loads due to prong flexure and misalignment, leading to spontaneous opening, and compromise catch surface strength when attempting to minimize distortion, while also causing pinching during release under heavy loads.
Innovation Solution
A buckle design featuring shiftable components with interlocking means, including resilient wings and prongs with cam surfaces that apply spring pressure to stabilize and distribute loads, allowing easy assembly and disassembly, and featuring guide bars for alignment, ensuring robustness and minimizing rattling and pinching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If angled locking surfaces are added to prevent spontaneous opening under load, then the buckle stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because prongs must be pushed hard to overcome the applied load
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional zones: cam surfaces for controlled engagement, flat locking surfaces for load-bearing stability, and release surfaces for easy disengagement. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the others.
Solution Approach 2:
The buckle employs dynamic geometry where the cam surfaces are angled to facilitate easy insertion and release, while the locking surfaces become parallel under load to maintain stability. The transition from angled to parallel surfaces is dynamic, occurring automatically based on the load state.
2Stability of the object's composition
If catching surfaces are moved near prong tips to minimize distortion, then the prong stability is improved, but the strength of catch surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the buckle components have different geometric properties optimized for their local function. The cam surfaces have angled geometry for easy operation, the locking surfaces have parallel geometry for strength, and the release surfaces have specific geometry for disengagement. Each local region's quality is tailored to its specific requirement.
3Ease of operation
If prongs are designed to flex inward for insertion, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the reliability deteriorates under heavy load due to spontaneous opening
Solution Approach 1:
The cam surfaces are pre-configured with specific angles that automatically guide the prongs into proper alignment during insertion. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that the prongs are correctly positioned before loading, eliminating the need for manual alignment and preventing spontaneous opening under load.
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 design enhances the buckle's ability to handle heavy loads by stabilizing the assembly under load and preventing spontaneous opening, while maintaining easy release functionality and reducing pinching, ensuring a snug fit and robust support.
Implementation Method 1
The wing has opposed mutually spaced resilient panels defining a passage therebetween leading to aligned locking surfaces on the panels. At least one resilient prong is provided on the other of the components.
Implementation Method 2
The first cam surfaces are configured and arranged to urge the panels apart to thereby accommodate insertion of the prong into the passage to a locked position
Data Source
AI summary
A buckle has two identical components relatively shiftable along a central axis into and out of an assembled state, with an interlocking mechanism for releasably coupling the components in their assembled state. The interlocking mechanism includes a wing on each of the components. The wings have opposed mutually spaced resilient panels defining passages therebetween leading to aligned locking surfaces. Each component also has a prong with oppositely protruding posts and first and second cam surfaces. The first cam surfaces are configured and arranged to urge the panels apart and thereby accommodate insertion of the prongs into the passages to locked positions at which the posts are in snap engagement with the locking surfaces. The second cam surfaces are configured and arranged to act in response to flexure of the prongs towards the central axis to urge the panels apart and to thereby accommodate withdrawal of the prong from the passages.