Toothed Spool Harness Adjustment for Quick, Secure Webbing Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional harness adjustment devices in fall protection systems are difficult to use and often fail to achieve a proper fit, consuming time and effort without ensuring the harness is neither too loose nor too tight.
Innovation Solution
A harness adjustment device featuring a toothed rotational member and an engagement mechanism that allows for easy adjustment of webbing length, with a lockable spool that defaults to a locked position to fix the length and includes a biasing mechanism to automatically draw in the webbing for a snug fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional manual adjustment devices are used, then the harness can be adjusted, but the adjustment process is difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment device uses a dynamic engagement mechanism that transitions between engaged and disengaged states. The cam member rotates to move the engagement member between these states, enabling quick transition from locked to unlocked position without complex manual manipulation, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with a biasing member that automatically returns the cam member to the engaged position after adjustment. This preliminary action of automatic re-engagement eliminates the need for manual resetting, reducing adjustment time and improving ease of operation for subsequent adjustments.
2Ease of operation
If the engagement mechanism allows easy unlocking, then adjustment is quick, but inadvertent unlocking may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism requires a specific rotational motion of the cam member to disengage, rather than simple linear pulling or pushing. This preliminary anti-action design prevents accidental unlocking by requiring a deliberate, multi-step motion that is unlikely to occur inadvertently, while still allowing quick intentional unlocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement and disengagement processes are segmented into distinct phases: the cam member must first rotate to a specific position, then the engagement member releases. This segmentation creates a controlled unlocking sequence that prevents inadvertent activation while maintaining ease of intentional operation.
3Reliability
If the harness fits tightly for security, then safety is improved, but comfort decreases due to circulation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment device enables dynamic fitting where the webbing length can be precisely modified to achieve optimal tension. The cam and engagement mechanism allow incremental adjustments that let users find the perfect balance between security and comfort, rather than being limited to fixed size options.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the physical parameter of webbing length through controlled winding on the spool. By precisely controlling the amount of webbing released or taken up, the system allows adjustment of tension parameters to achieve both security and comfort simultaneously.
4Ease of operation
If excess webbing is allowed out, then comfort is improved, but the harness becomes too loose and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism provides tactile feedback through the cam profile that indicates when the webbing is properly tensioned. The user can feel the engagement points and understand when the harness is securely fitted, eliminating uncertainty about whether excess webbing has been released too far, thus maintaining both comfort and safety.
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
Enables quick and convenient adjustment of harness fit, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit without excess webbing management, while preventing inadvertent unlocking.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member structured to bias the lockable spool to draw in the webbing
Data Source
AI summary
A harness adjustment device for adjusting a length of webbing includes a toothed rotational member including a spool structured to receive the webbing and an end portion including teeth disposed at an end of the spool, the toothed rotational member being structured to rotate to draw in or let out the webbing, and an engagement mechanism having an engagement portion. The engagement portion is structured to move between a first position in which the engagement portion abuts against the toothed rotational member between at least two of the teeth and prevents rotation of the toothed rotational member, and a second position in which the engagement portion is separated from the toothed rotational member and allows rotation of the toothed rotational member.