Tow Strap Force Distribution on Inflatable Tube Covers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current towable devices for recreational tubing, such as inflatable tubes used on water or snow, face issues with the tow strap exerting excessive force on the cover, leading to potential failure, especially when supporting multiple tubes and riders.
Innovation Solution
A towable device featuring a cover that encases one or more toroidal inflatable tubes and incorporates a looped tow strap that wraps around the tubes' circumference, distributing towing forces more evenly and providing a secure attachment point for towing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tow strap is attached to the cover at a single point, then the attachment is simple, but the attachment point is subject to large forces and is prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The tow strap is segmented into multiple attachment points distributed around the circumference of the tube rather than a single attachment point. This segmentation distributes the towing force across multiple locations, reducing the stress concentration at any single point and preventing cover failure while maintaining simple attachment procedures.
2Ease of manufacture
If the tow strap exerts all towing force on the cover at one point, then the strap is easy to attach, but the cover material is prone to failure under concentrated load
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into multiple points around the tube circumference. This distributes the towing force across multiple locations on the cover, reducing the concentrated load at any single point and preventing cover material failure while maintaining ease of attachment through simple grommet integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed with localized reinforcement at multiple attachment point locations. This local quality enhancement strengthens the cover specifically where the tow strap contacts it, distributing the towing force across reinforced zones and preventing material failure under load.
3Reliability
If the tow strap wraps around the tube within the cover, then the towing force is distributed, but the strap configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tow strap configuration uses multiple discrete attachment points around the tube rather than a continuous wrap. This segmented approach distributes towing force effectively while simplifying the strap configuration to straightforward linear segments between attachment points, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Grommets serve as intermediary elements that facilitate the tow strap attachment at multiple points. These intermediaries simplify the strap configuration by providing pre-positioned attachment locations, eliminating the need for complex wrapping arrangements while achieving effective force distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
The towable device having a cover and looped tow strap includes one or more toroidal inflatable tubes surrounded by an abrasion and puncture resistant cover. The cover tightly wraps around the inflated tube(s) to support and contain the tube(s). A top surface of the cover defines openings around the central passageway created by each toroidal tube to allow a rider to enter and occupy the space within the passageway. A lower surface of the cover provides a continuous surface to accommodate sliding during use and support a rider positioned within the center of each tube. A tow strap wraps around a circumference of at least one of the tubes within the cover and extends out a front of the cover for attachment to a towing device.