Slide Fastener With Hook-Like Element Legs For 3D Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide fasteners are limited to two-dimensional functionality, primarily used for opening and closing clothes and bags, lacking the ability to operate in a three-dimensional space.
Innovation Solution
A slide fastener design featuring a horizontal functional section for opening and closing a horizontal portion and a vertical functional section for opening and closing a vertical portion, with element heads meshing and unmeshing to control horizontal fastener tapes and element legs forming hook-like shapes to engage a vertical fastener tape, allowing for three-dimensional operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional two-dimensional slide fastener structure is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the functionality is limited to opening and closing in a single plane
Solution Approach 1:
The element is divided into distinct functional sections: a horizontal functional section with element heads for horizontal fastening, and a vertical functional section with element legs for vertical fastening. This segmentation allows the single element to perform multiple directional functions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured using conventional processes.
2Productivity
If a single slider is used to control both horizontal and vertical fastening, then the operation efficiency is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal and vertical fastening mechanisms are merged into a single element structure. The element heads and element legs are integrated components of the same element, allowing one slider to control both horizontal meshing/unmeshing of element heads and vertical movement of element legs, thereby improving operation efficiency without requiring separate sliders or complex coordination mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The element is designed with multi-functionality, where the same element serves dual purposes: the element heads engage with counterpart elements for horizontal fastening, while the element legs extend vertically to engage with vertical fastener tapes. This universal design allows a single slider operation to achieve both horizontal and vertical opening/closing functions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If element legs are extended vertically and bent into hook-like shapes, then the three-dimensional fastening capability is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The element is segmented into distinct functional zones: the element heads portion for horizontal engagement and the element legs portion for vertical engagement. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturability through conventional forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The element structure transitions from a traditional two-dimensional horizontal configuration to a three-dimensional structure by extending portions of the element vertically to form element legs. These legs are bent into hook-like shapes that can engage with vertical fastener tapes, enabling the fastener to operate in three-dimensional space while using standard manufacturing techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
The slide fastener comprises elements, and a slider, the slide fastener opening and closing a horizontal opening/closing portion and a vertical opening/closing portion with one operation by sliding the slider along the elements. The slide fastener includes a horizontal functional section and a vertical functional section. The horizontal functional section includes element heads which are meshed with and unmeshed from each other, and horizontal fastener tapes. The vertical functional section includes element legs extending vertically to the horizontal direction and bending into a hook-like shape, holding portions which are formed by distal ends of the element legs, and a vertical fastener tape.