Side Release Buckle Non-Linear Arms Compact Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side-release buckle assemblies face challenges in being easily released and assembled while maintaining a minimal overall width, as increasing arm length to facilitate easier biasing results in a larger buckle width, which is often constrained by product specifications.
Innovation Solution
The buckle assembly incorporates non-linear lateral arms with increased effective length due to non-linear portions, allowing for easier release and assembly with reduced compression force without increasing the linear distance between the pivot point and latching ledge, thus maintaining a compact width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the buckle's arm length is increased to facilitate easier biasing and release, then the ease of operation is improved, but the overall width of the buckle assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral arms are configured with non-linear portions including arcs and curves instead of straight lines. This curvature increases the effective length of the lateral arms, providing greater mechanical advantage and easier biasing, while the non-linear path allows the arms to be contained within a smaller linear width envelope, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and compact width.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from linear arm geometry to non-linear arm geometry by introducing curved paths and arcs. This dimensional change in the arm configuration allows the effective length to be extended in a non-linear direction while maintaining compact linear dimensions, enabling easier operation without increasing the overall width of the buckle assembly.
2Force
If the arm length is increased to reduce compression force required for release, then the force required is reduced, but the linear distance between pivot point and latching ledge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The non-linear lateral arms incorporate arcs and curved portions that increase the effective mechanical length without proportionally increasing the linear distance between pivot point and latching ledge. This curvature provides greater leverage and mechanical advantage, reducing the compression force needed for release while maintaining more compact linear dimensions than a purely linear arm of equivalent effective length.
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
This design enables the buckle assembly to be easily disconnected and assembled with lower compression forces, maintaining a compact width by increasing the effective length of the lateral arms through non-linear configurations, which do not affect the linear dimensions, thereby accommodating space constraints.
Implementation Method 1
one or more lateral arms coupled to the main body and configured to deflect about pivot points
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a buckle assembly having a female buckle component and a male buckle component. The male buckle component configured to mate with the female buckle component and comprising a main body, a mating guide beam, and one or more lateral arms coupled to the main body and configured to deflect about pivot points. Each lateral arm having a distal end configured to engage said female buckle component via a latching ledge of a button. Each lateral arm is shaped to define an effective length between the latching ledge and the pivot point that is greater than a linear distance between the latching ledge and the pivot point.