Spa Cover Latch with Angled Slot and Tabs for Strap Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spa cover latches are often made of plastic or sewn into straps, making them prone to breaking and difficult to replace, leading to inadequate security and maintenance issues.
Innovation Solution
A durable latch set comprising an elongated receiving portion with angled slots and attachment holes, and a strap engaging portion with tabs and channels, allowing for easy installation and replacement without cutting the strap, using stainless steel or other durable materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional plastic latches or sewn latches are used, then the spa cover can be closed, but the latches break easily and are difficult to replace
Solution Approach 1:
The latch system is divided into separate components: a durable metal latch body and a replaceable strap. This segmentation allows the strap to be easily replaced when worn while the durable latch body remains in place, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is extracted from the strap material itself (no longer sewn in) and made into a separate, removable component. This allows the latch to be easily removed and replaced without damaging the strap or requiring complex installation procedures.
2Reliability
If a durable metal latch is used, then reliability improves, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the strap permanent and replacing the entire assembly, the invention inverts the approach by making the latch the permanent component and allowing the strap to be easily replaced. This simplifies installation and maintenance while maintaining durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch design includes self-aligning features and intuitive installation steps that allow users to install or replace the latch without specialized tools or expertise. The rounded end provides a grip point for easy manipulation during installation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the latch is made as a single integrated piece, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability to different straps is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The latch body is designed with universal features including multiple hole patterns for different attachment configurations and a standardized receiving slot that accommodates various strap types and widths, making it adaptable to different spa cover applications while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A latch set and concomitant methods including an elongated receiving portion including an upper portion with a receiving slot at an angle from horizontal and at least one receiving hole on either side of the slot, and a lower portion with one or more attachment holes, and a strap engaging portion including a strap receiving slot, a channel going from an edge of the strap engaging portion to the strap receiving slot, and a portion engaging the elongated receiving portion via one or more inward-facing tabs on either side of a central connecting portion and configured to engage the one or more attachment holes.