Strapping System with Segmented Touch Fastener Buckle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing strapping systems, particularly touch fastening straps, face challenges in providing a secure yet easily releasable closure, as they often have high resistance to shear forces but low resistance to peel forces, making it difficult to efficiently bundle and separate items without tools.

Innovation Solution

A strapping system featuring a buckle assembly with touch fastening elements on opposite faces of a strap, where the buckle and attachment portion engage the strap's touch fastening elements, allowing for secure bundling with high shear resistance and easy release with low peel resistance, achieved through the use of complementary touch fastening elements and a 'Y' shaped attachment configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If touch fastening elements are used to create a releasable closure, then the strap has strong resistance to shear forces to keep items bundled, but the strap has low resistance to peel forces making it difficult to secure reliably

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshear resistanceVSAvoidsecure closure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure system is divided into two distinct functional zones: a first closure portion with high peel resistance for reliable attachment, and a second closure portion with low peel resistance for easy release. This segmentation allows each portion to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the strap are given different local properties: the first closure portion uses touch fastening elements configured for high peel resistance to ensure secure attachment, while the second closure portion uses touch fastening elements configured for low peel resistance to enable easy release. Each local region is optimized for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If touch fastening elements are used to enable easy release by peeling, then the strap has low resistance to peel forces, but the strap has relatively strong resistance to shear forces making it difficult to separate without tools

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeasy releaseVSAvoidsecure closure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a single uniform closure mechanism, the invention inverts the typical approach by creating two opposing closure portions with opposite peel resistance characteristics. The first portion resists peeling strongly for secure attachment, while the second portion peels easily for simple release, effectively using the inverse properties in different locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Strength

If a buckle assembly is added to secure the strap, then the shear resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshear resistanceVSAvoidstrapping system

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The buckle assembly is integrated directly with the attachment portion of the strap, merging two separate components into a unified structure. The buckle and attachment portion work together as a single functional unit, reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying the overall system while maintaining strong shear resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment portion serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the buckle assembly, contains the touch fastening elements for closure, and forms part of the bonding structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively secures bundles with strong resistance to shear forces while allowing easy detachment by peeling, enhancing the usability and reliability of strapping systems in various industrial and commercial applications.

Implementation Method 1

a buckle assembly releasably attached to one end of the strap and defining an opening sized to receive an opposite end of the strap. The buckle assembly includes a buckle and an attachment portion coupled to the buckle, the attachment portion having opposing surfaces that releasably engage the touch fastening elements on the first and second faces of the strap

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTouch fastening mechanism: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS8069540B2Strapping system

Publication Date: 2011.12.06 VELCRO IP HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A strapping system including a strap having opposite first and second faces carrying first and second arrays of touch fastening elements respectively and a buckle assembly releasably attached to one end of the strap and defining an opening sized to receive an opposite end of the strap. The buckle assembly includes a buckle and an attachment portion coupled to the buckle, the attachment portion having opposing surfaces that releasably engage the touch fastening elements on the first and second faces of the strap, respectively, to releasably secure the buckle to the strap, wherein the strap includes touch fastening elements engageable with other touch fastening elements of the strapping system when the buckle assembly attached to the strap to secure the strapping system about an object.