Spool Lace Fastening Device with Locking Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening devices for securing articles with laces are either insecure due to easy loosening under external forces or have complex structures that increase manufacturing costs and assembly difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A fastening device comprising a case, a spool, and a knob, where the spool is wound with lace and the knob's rotation adjusts the lace's tension, using a locking unit to prevent loosening, simplifying the structure while maintaining security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple spring-based fastening mechanism is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing cost is low, but the lace is easily released due to vibrations or external force
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device is divided into distinct functional components: a case for housing, a spool for winding the lace, a locking unit with pawls and ratchet teeth for securing, and a knob for operation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking unit is pre-configured with pawls that automatically engage with the ratchet teeth on the spool as the lace is wound. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the lace is secured immediately upon winding without requiring additional actions or complex mechanisms to prevent release.
2Reliability
If a rotational buckle with interference components is used, then the lace can be received inside and tightness can be adjusted, but the structure becomes complex with increased manufacturing cost and assembly difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of lace reception and tightness adjustment from complex rotational buckle mechanisms. By using a simple spool inside a case with a locking unit, the device achieves lace reception and adjustable tightness without the complex interference components found in traditional buckles, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining the required functionality.
3Device complexity
If the lace is exposed outside the fastening device, then the structure is simple, but the exposed lace may bring danger to users
Solution Approach 1:
The spool containing the lace is nested inside the case, which houses all the fastening components. This nesting arrangement conceals the lace within the device structure, preventing it from being exposed to users and eliminating the safety hazard of exposed laces while maintaining structural simplicity through the integrated case design.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastening device includes a case, a spool and a knob. The case includes a housing and a base. The housing includes a receiving space and two side holes communicated with the receiving space. The base is detachably connected to the housing. The base includes a continuous wall, and the continuous wall surrounds a lower edge of the housing after the base is connected to the housing. The spool is received in the receiving space and configured for a lace passing through the side holes to be wound therearound. The knob is disposed on the case. Rotating the knob relative to the case in a fastening direction causes the spool to rotate in the fastening direction for fastening the lace.