Strap Retention Mechanism With Gateway Buckle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing straps for retaining large sports and outdoor recreation articles, such as skis, are difficult to orientate and use, prone to losing tension, and not easily storable, leading to inefficiency and increased risk of loss.
Innovation Solution
A flexible strap with a buckle featuring a central region of spaced fastening holes and a gateway on the buckle side region, allowing for easy orientation and engagement without threading the strap through the buckle, and a transverse tab for secure retention on a support bracket.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing straps use a continuous flat configuration, then the strap structure is simple, but it is difficult for users to readily place the strap into the proper orientation during use
Solution Approach 1:
The strap incorporates asymmetric features including a curved configuration with a defined inner surface and outer surface, and a transverse tab extending from one end. This asymmetry provides visual and tactile cues that guide proper orientation during use, eliminating the confusion associated with symmetric continuous flat straps.
2Reliability
If existing straps rely substantially upon initial tension to keep the strap connected, then the strap structure is simple, but the engagement of the buckle can be released when tension is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The buckle is pre-configured with a gateway that receives the transverse tab of the strap body. This preliminary engagement structure ensures that even when tension is reduced, the tab remains captured within the gateway, preventing accidental release of the buckle engagement.
3Ease of operation
If existing straps include a conventional buckle arrangement requiring threading the free end through the closed frame, then the buckle structure is traditional, but use of the strap becomes more difficult and requires more time to manipulate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the threading requirement from the conventional buckle mechanism by providing a gateway that directly receives the transverse tab. This eliminates the time-consuming process of threading the free end through a closed frame, allowing for quick engagement and manipulation.
4Reliability
If existing straps are not configured to be easily stored or retained when not in use, then the strap structure is simple, but the straps are more prone to being lost or misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
The strap is configured to be releasably retained by a support bracket when not in use. The transverse tab can be inserted into slots or openings in the bracket, creating a nested storage arrangement that prevents loss and misplacement while maintaining simplicity in the overall system.
Data Source
AI summary
A strap for releasably retaining one or more articles. The strap includes a flexible elongate body and a buckle coupled to the first end. The body has a first region adjacent a first end of the body, a second region adjacent a second end of the body, and a central region positioned between the first and second regions. The central region of the body defines a plurality of spaced apart fastening holes. The first region defines a strap opening for receiving the second end of the strap and releasably engaging a portion of the body. The buckle includes a frame including a proximal region coupled to the first end of the body, a distal region, and first and second side regions between the proximal and distal region. The second side region includes a gateway for releasably receiving any region of the body.