Trapeze Closure Lever Mechanism for Harness Buckle Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harness buckles for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and sailing are cumbersome to put on and adjust due to the difficulty in hooking and unhooking the carabiner, and the length adjustment of harness belts is complicated by the need for tensioning devices that are hard to access and operate.
Innovation Solution
A trapeze belt with a locking piece that uses a pivoted lever arrangement, featuring parallel hook-shaped claws for non-positive and positive engagement with a retaining element, allowing for easy adjustment and secure fitting without tilting, and a pivoting plate that creates a large lever arm for easy actuation and locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a carabiner-like element is used to hook into an eyelet to ensure precise harness positioning, then the harness fits securely on the hip, but releasing the closure requires applying significant pre-tension force making it difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system transitions from a static carabiner hook to a dynamic spring-loaded mechanism with a lever arm. The spring provides automatic tension maintenance while the lever arm enables easy actuation with minimal force, resolving the contradiction between secure positioning and ease of release.
Solution Approach 2:
A spring element is introduced as an intermediary between the hook and the lever mechanism. This spring mediates the force transmission, storing energy during engagement and providing automatic tension, while the lever arm serves as another intermediary to reduce the actuation force required by the user.
2Reliability
If the harness is worn tightly against the body to prevent slipping, then the harness fits securely, but putting on the harness becomes difficult due to the need to apply high force to hook the carabiner
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism uses a spring-loaded system that automatically adjusts to the harness tension. When donning, the spring allows the hook to engage easily even when the harness is tight, eliminating the need to loosen straps for installation while maintaining secure fit.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-loaded during manufacturing to provide initial engagement force. This preliminary action ensures that the hook can engage the eyelet automatically when brought together, without requiring the user to apply additional force or loosen the harness straps.
3Adaptability or versatility
If strap tensioners are used to adjust the harness to hip circumference, then the harness can be customized to different users, but the tensioning devices are located in pockets making them difficult to access and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning function is extracted from the pocket-located strap tensioners and integrated directly into the closure mechanism at the front of the harness. This extraction makes the adjustment mechanism immediately accessible without requiring the user to reach into pockets or manipulate complex strap systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure mechanism and tensioning mechanism are merged into a single integrated assembly. The lever arm that releases the closure also activates the tensioning function, combining two previously separate functions into one easily accessible operation at the front of the harness.
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 solution simplifies the handling of the harness buckle by allowing easy attachment and detachment without applying significant force and provides a secure, adjustable fit that prevents tilting of the claws, enhancing wearing comfort and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a pivoting lever arrangement such that, upon actuation of the pivoting lever arrangement, the end fitting can be moved or adjusted in the tensioning direction
Implementation Method 2
This positive engagement is effected in such a way that tilting of the claws with respect to the retaining element can be substantially prevented during clamping and also during use
Data Source
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AI summary
A trapeze fastener and a trapeze belt are disclosed, wherein two approximately hook-shaped claws are preferably formed on a closing piece of the trapeze fastener, which claws can be brought into force- and form-locking engagement with a retaining element formed on a hook plate.