Snap Button With Inclined Grooves For Detachment Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Snap buttons with male and female snaps often experience difficulty in removal due to relative rotation, which can lead to the male snap being hard to detach and potentially damage the cloth or snaps during use, as existing solutions either restrict rotation entirely or allow it freely.

Innovation Solution

A snap button design featuring a male snap with an annular engagement part having bumps or dips on its periphery and a female snap with corresponding bumps or dips, allowing for a non-engagement state that permits rotation during normal use but engages to restrict rotation during detachment, using a mechanism where the snaps can move between concentric and inclined positions to control engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If measures are taken to limit relative rotation between male snap and female snap during off-action, then the male snap can be removed more easily, but relative rotation during usual motion is restricted which may damage cloth parts or the snaps themselves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of removalVSAvoidrotation freedom during use
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The snap button mechanism dynamically changes its rotational characteristics based on operational state. During usual motion, the snaps can rotate freely relative to each other. During off-action (removal), the mechanism transitions to a state where rotation is limited, enabling easier removal. This is achieved through the interaction between the projection-receiving space and the engagement part with bumps/dips that selectively engage only under specific force conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical parameters of the snap button system change based on the applied force magnitude. Under normal wear conditions, the snaps maintain a state allowing rotation. When removal force is applied, the system transitions to a different mechanical state where the engagement parts interact to limit rotation. This parameter change enables the dual functionality of free rotation during use and rotation limitation during removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If relative rotation between male snap and female snap is permitted during usual motion, then comfort and flexibility are improved, but the male snap may rotate on its own axis within the projection-receiving space making removal difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation freedom during useVSAvoidease of removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The snap button mechanism dynamically changes its rotational characteristics based on operational state. During usual motion, the snaps can rotate freely relative to each other. During off-action (removal), the mechanism transitions to a state where rotation is limited, enabling easier removal. This is achieved through the interaction between the projection-receiving space and the engagement part with bumps/dips that selectively engage only under specific force conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical parameters of the snap button system change based on the applied force magnitude. Under normal wear conditions, the snaps maintain a state allowing rotation. When removal force is applied, the system transitions to a different mechanical state where the engagement parts interact to limit rotation. This parameter change enables the dual functionality of free rotation during use and rotation limitation during removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the engagement part has bumps and dips arranged in circumferential direction, then rotation can be limited during off-action through engagement, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation control during removalVSAvoidengagement part structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement part is segmented into discrete circumferential elements (bumps and dips) rather than being a continuous surface. This segmentation allows selective engagement at specific circumferential positions, enabling rotation limitation during removal while maintaining simplicity in the overall structure. The segmented design is more straightforward than complex continuous engagement surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2441339B1Snap button
Publication Date: 2016.12.21 YKK CORP
  • EP2441339B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2441339B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2441339B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided is a snap button wherein, when a male snap is removed from a female snap, a rotation between the snaps is limited, but a rotation between the snaps is permitted normally. A male-side grooved surface (14b) is provided on a male snap (10) radially outward from a projection (12) of the snap (10). On the male-side grooved surface (14), a plurality of grooves are formed so that peaks and troughs of the grooves are arranged continuously in the entire circumferential direction. Each of the grooves extends in the radial direction. A female-side grooved surface (26c) similar to the male-side grooved surface (14b) is provided on a female snap (20) radially outward from a projection-receiving space (21) of the snap (20). The female-side grooved surface (26c) is inclined relative to the male-side grooved surface (14b). Usually, the male-side grooved surface (14b) and the female-side grooved surface (26c) are in a non-engagement state and a rotation between the snaps (10, 20) is permitted. When the male snap (10) is removed from the female snap (20), each axis of the male snap (10) and the female snap (20), which are yet in a coupled state, inclines relative to each other, causing the male-side grooved surface (14b) and the female-side grooved surface (26c) to partially engage with each other. Thereby, a rotation between the snaps (10, 20) is limited.