Trapeze Closure Pivoting Lever for Harness Engagement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trapezoidal locks for kitesurfing and windsurfing harnesses require significant force to engage and release the carabiner, making it cumbersome to put on and take off the harness, especially due to the need for hand placement between the carabiner and the body.
Innovation Solution
A trapezoidal lock design featuring a locking piece that can be pivoted into a hanging position for easy attachment and then adjusted into a locking position, utilizing a pivot lever or eccentric mechanism to apply tension, allowing for easier engagement and release with reduced force requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a carabiner-like element is hooked into an eyelet to secure the harness, then the harness can be firmly attached to the body, but significant force is required to engage and release the closure making it cumbersome to put on and take off
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism is divided into two separate functional components: a locking piece with carabiner-like element for secure attachment, and a pivoting locking lever for easy engagement and release. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function - the locking piece provides reliable connection while the lever provides ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking lever acts as an intermediary between the user's hand and the locking piece. By pivoting the lever, the user indirectly operates the locking mechanism without needing to directly manipulate the carabiner-like element, thus reducing the force required and simplifying the engagement and release process.
2Ease of manufacture
If the hand is placed between the carabiner and the body to apply pulling force for closing, then the carabiner can be engaged, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The locking piece is pre-positioned in a receiving structure that guides the eyelet into place. The pivoting lever is pre-configured to automatically engage the locking piece when moved from the open to closed position, eliminating the need for manual positioning and reducing the time required to don the harness.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the pivoting motion of the locking lever. When the lever is pivoted, it automatically tensions the retaining element and engages the locking piece without requiring the user to manually apply complex forces or perform multiple manual operations.
3Ease of operation
If adjustable straps are loosened to facilitate putting on the harness, then the harness is easier to don, but the straps must be tightened again after engagement making the procedure very cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The difficult-to-operate carabiner closure is extracted from the strap adjustment system and replaced with the simplified pivoting lever mechanism. This allows the straps to remain tensioned throughout the donning process, as the new closure can be engaged without requiring the straps to be loosened, thereby reducing the number of adjustment steps.
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
Significantly simplifies the handling of the trapezoidal lock by allowing easy hanging and tensioning with less force, improving convenience and reducing the likelihood of accidental release or difficult attachment.
Implementation Method 1
the locking piece is designed as a pivot lever (26) mounted on a base (10, 64) for pivoting about a pivot axis (28)
Implementation Method 2
the locking piece is designed as a rotatably mounted eccentric (50), which is encompassed by the annular retaining element (38)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed are a trapeze fastener and a trapeze belt provided with such a trapeze fastener, in which a fastener is provided with a hooking position and a closing position.