Toothless Ligation Assembly for Constant Animal-Safe Tension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ligation assemblies, such as tie-wraps and cable ties, face issues with inconsistent tension and require expensive, cumbersome banding tools, particularly in applications like animal ligation and elastration.
Innovation Solution
A novel toothless ligation assembly featuring a locking head, a toothless elongated strap body, and an elastomeric coupling member between the head and strap, fabricated from thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers, ensuring consistent and sufficient tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tie-wraps with ratchet teeth are used, then the strap can be tensioned and locked, but the teeth cause irritation and discomfort to the animal and require expensive banding tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the ratchet teeth from the strap surface, extracting the harmful element that causes animal discomfort. The teeth are completely eliminated from the strap body, allowing the strap to contact the animal smoothly without irritation while tension is maintained through the internal elastomeric coupling mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric coupling member acts as an intermediary between the locking head and the strap body. This intermediate element provides the necessary tensioning and locking functions without requiring surface teeth, thereby eliminating animal discomfort while maintaining reliable tension through the elastomeric material's mechanical properties
2Ease of operation
If conventional tie-wraps are used, then ligation can be performed, but expensive and cumbersome banding tools are required
Solution Approach 1:
The tie-wrap is designed to be self-tensioning through the elastomeric coupling member that automatically engages with the locking head when the strap is pulled through. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external powered banding tools, allowing manual installation by simply pulling the strap end through the loop
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable, single-use tie-wrap design that eliminates the need for expensive reusable banding tools. The low-cost construction allows operators to use simple manual methods rather than investing in costly equipment, making the system more accessible and easier to operate
3Object-affected harmful factors
If toothless strap is used, then animal discomfort is reduced, but tensioning mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric coupling member is strategically positioned only in the critical tensioning zone between the locking head and strap body. This localized application of elastomeric material provides the necessary mechanical functions without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire strap, maintaining simplicity while eliminating teeth-related irritation
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 assembly provides constant and sufficient tension without ratchet teeth irritation, reducing animal discomfort and installer fatigue, while eliminating the need for costly banding tools.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric subassembly or coupling positioned generally between the tie-wrap head and the elongated strap to ensure that the tie-wrap assembly engages the banded object with both constant and sufficient tension
Data Source
AI summary
A ligation assembly having a locking head, an elongated strap body, wherein the elongated strap body includes a bottom surface that is free from ratchet teeth, and wherein the elongated strap body is spaced apart from the locking head, and a coupling member, wherein the coupling member is connected to and disposed between the locking head and the elongated strap body, and wherein the coupling member is fabricated from an elastomeric material.