Slider Locking Pawl Clearance and Collision Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sliders with automatic locking mechanisms face issues with maintaining a stable sliding property and locking mechanism due to limitations in the movement of the locking pawl, leading to collisions and external forces affecting the temporary-engagement protrusions, which compromises the clearance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A slider design with a temporary engagement portion positioned to match the height of the upper surface or be lower than it, allowing the locking pawl to be inserted and detached smoothly, and featuring a concave insert portion and rising portions to prevent collisions and ensure stable clearance, along with a stepped portion for mold strength and installation height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the temporary engagement portion is positioned higher than the upper surface of the upper blade, then the locking pawl can be securely engaged, but the tab may collide with the temporary engagement portion during operation, affecting the clearance and sliding property
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary engagement portion is repositioned from a vertical projection above the upper surface to a horizontal arrangement within the same plane as the upper surface. This dimensional change eliminates the vertical collision path while maintaining the engagement function through horizontal positioning within the insert groove structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the temporary engagement portion protrude upward to engage the locking pawl, the design inverts the approach by having the locking pawl engage with the temporary engagement portion that is level with or recessed from the upper surface. This reverses the traditional engagement direction and eliminates the collision issue.
2Ease of operation
If the locking pawl is allowed to move freely for smooth insertion and detachment, then the sliding property is maintained, but the temporary engagement portion may be affected by external forces and collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The design provides beforehand protection by positioning the temporary engagement portion at the same level as the upper surface, preventing external forces and collisions from affecting it. This proactive positioning cushions the engagement mechanism against potential damage during tab manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert groove structure acts as an intermediary that protects the temporary engagement portion. By positioning the temporary engagement portion within the insert groove at the same level as the upper surface, the design creates a protective arrangement that shields the engagement mechanism from external forces while still allowing smooth locking pawl movement.
3Ease of operation
If the temporary engagement portion is lowered to prevent collisions, then the sliding property and clearance are maintained, but the structural strength for engagement may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement strength is maintained not through vertical height but through horizontal positioning within the insert groove. The temporary engagement portion derives its strength from its integration with the blade structure at the same level, distributing engagement forces horizontally rather than relying on vertical projection.
Solution Approach 2:
The temporary engagement portion is integrated with the blade structure as a unified component. This composite arrangement ensures that the engagement strength is derived from the overall blade structure rather than a separate protruding element, maintaining strength while preventing collisions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A slider (1, 71) for a slide fastener including: a slider body (2, 72), in which front end portions of upper and lower blades (21, 22) are connected to each other by a connection post (23) and a Y-shaped element guide lane (28) is disposed between the upper and lower blades (21, 22); a tab (5) whose one end portion is rotatably retained in the upper blade (21); and a locking pawl (6) which is disposed in the upper blade (21) and whose one end is provided with a claw portion (61), wherein the upper blade (21) includes: a tab retaining portion (31) which retains the tab (5); an insert groove (32) into which the locking pawl (6) is inserted; a temporary engagement portion (34, 74) which fixes an other end portion of the locking pawl (6); a claw hole (37) which is penetrated so as to pass through the claw portion (61); and the locking pawl (6) is disposed so that the claw portion (61) can be inserted into and detached from the element guide lane (28) through the claw hole (37) by falling and erecting operations of the tab (5), being characterized in that rising portions (35) which rise from the upper surface of the upper blade (21) and allow the tab (5) to contact with the rising portions (35) when the tab (5) is fallen down to the side of the connection post (23) are disposed between the temporary engagement portion (34, 74) and the tab retaining portion (31).