Zip Fastener Slider With Hinge Taps and Assembly Chamfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slider technologies for zip fasteners have complex and time-consuming assembly processes, making them costly and difficult to repair, with prior methods requiring precise alignment and additional steps for hinge formation.
Innovation Solution
A slider design featuring a hinge formed through cooperation between hinge taps and an assembly chamfer, allowing for simple assembly by pressing the upper part onto the lower part, with locking pins and a resilient puller for secure closure and easy disassembly, reducing the number of moving parts and production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the upper part and lower part are connected by a hinge using a fastening pin through holes, then the slider can be assembled, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and complex requiring precise alignment and heading operations
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is segmented into a hinge pin and a hinge slot, allowing the upper and lower parts to be connected without requiring precise alignment of holes through the entire assembly process. The hinge pin fits into the hinge slot, creating a functional hinge connection that can be assembled more easily.
Solution Approach 2:
The heading operation is extracted from the assembly process. Instead of requiring heading to secure the fastening pin, the hinge design uses a hinge pin that is retained by the hinge slot geometry, eliminating the need for additional heading steps.
2Reliability
If the hinge taps are formed and introduced into the aperture by means of die punches, then the hinge connection is achieved, but additional joining steps are required after the upper part is mounted onto the lower part
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge formation and the mounting of the upper part onto the lower part are merged into a single operation. The hinge taps are pre-formed on the upper part, and when the upper part is mounted onto the lower part, the hinge taps automatically engage with the aperture, achieving both the hinge connection and the part assembly in one step.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge taps are preliminarily formed on the upper part before mounting. This preliminary action allows the hinge connection to be established automatically during the mounting process, eliminating the need for separate joining steps after assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If the slider components are designed with simple assembly features, then assembly is easier, but the slider construction may lack rigidity and durability
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge connection area is designed with specific local qualities - the hinge slot provides a tight fit for the hinge pin, creating a rigid connection at the critical hinge location. Meanwhile, other areas of the slider maintain simple designs for ease of assembly. This localized reinforcement ensures structural integrity without complicating the overall assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge slot is designed with an asymmetric geometry that provides rigid connection in the critical directions while allowing simple assembly. The slot geometry is tailored to provide strong mechanical interlocking where needed, while maintaining ease of insertion during assembly.
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 enables a simple, efficient assembly process resulting in a rigid, long-lasting slider with reduced production costs and improved usability, allowing for easy repair and replacement of defective zip fasteners.
Implementation Method 1
The area of the lower part comprises an assembly chamfer, which by cooperating with the hinge taps is adapted to pivotally lock the upper part and the lower part. The area of the lower part also comprises a guiding groove, in which the hinge taps are led upon assembly of the upper part to the lower part, whereby the assembly chamfer forces the hinge taps outwards in a slight resilient movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A slider for a zip fastener includes a lower part, an upper part and a puller. The lower part and upper part are interconnected by a hinge, whereby the slider can be set in an open and a closed condition, respectively. The puller, which is made of a resilient material and constitutes the part that the user holds when using the slider, includes locking pins for locking the lower part and upper part in the closed condition, and also dividing shoulders. The lower part includes a hole which can receive the locking pins of the puller in order to lock the lower part and the upper part in the closed condition. The upper part includes a cradle for the locking pins of the puller and also a slanted dividing body, which is capable of separating the dividing shoulders and therewith the locking pins of the puller. Further, the upper part includes two hinge taps and the lower part includes an area for cooperation with the hinge taps.