Softcover Strap Attachment for Inflatable Slide Housings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft evacuation systems require time-consuming and expensive installation of softcovers using screw or fastener inserts, which are costly to produce.
Innovation Solution
A softcover system with fabric panels and straps configured to secure to a housing via apertures and brackets or rods, allowing for faster installation and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screw or fastener inserts are used to attach the softcover to the packboard, then the attachment is secure and reliable, but the installation time increases and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fastener components (screws, inserts, fasteners) from the attachment system entirely. Instead of using traditional mechanical fasteners, the invention uses the fabric panels themselves with integrated straps and lacing mechanisms that attach directly to the packboard structure, eliminating the need for separate fastening components and significantly reducing installation complexity and time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the attachment function into the fabric panel structure itself. The straps are integrated into the fabric panels, and the lacing system combines both the attachment and closure functions into a single integrated mechanism, eliminating the need for separate fasteners and reducing the number of installation steps
2Reliability
If screw or fastener inserts are used to attach the softcover to the packboard, then the attachment is secure and reliable, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes expensive metal fasteners, inserts, and associated hardware from the bill of materials. By using only fabric components (panels, straps, lacing) that can be manufactured from textile materials, the production cost is significantly reduced while maintaining attachment reliability through the integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive fabric-based attachment components instead of expensive metal fasteners. The fabric panels and straps can be manufactured at low cost using textile production methods, making the overall system more cost-effective while maintaining sufficient reliability for the application
3Strength
If traditional fasteners are used to attach the softcover, then the attachment strength is sufficient, but the number of components and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (attachment, closure, and structural support) into the fabric panel and strap assembly. The straps serve both as structural elements and as the attachment mechanism themselves, eliminating the need for separate fasteners and reducing installation complexity to a simple lacing process
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric panels and straps serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide the cover structure, the attachment mechanism to the packboard, and the closure system. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed and simplifies the overall installation process
Data Source
AI summary
A softcover for an evacuation system may comprise a fabric panel. The fabric panel may define a plurality of apertures located proximate a first end of the first fabric panel. A plurality of straps may extend from a second end of the fabric panel. The straps may be configured to secure the fabric panel to a housing configured to receive an inflatable slide.