Tubular Securing Ring for Climbing Harnesses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belay loops in climbing harnesses have hard edges and seams that cause abrasion and limit strength due to their flat design and stitching, which are not adequately addressed by current technologies.
Innovation Solution
A tubular securing ring is created by folding and securing biaxially braided material, such as nylon or Vectran, to form a closed loop with no seams, reducing abrasion and enhancing strength through a spiral cross-section and edge lamination or stitching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat webbing strap is used to create a belay loop, then the loop can be manufactured with simple stitching, but the hard edges and seams cause abrasion and limit strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the flat webbing strap into a tubular structure by folding it back on itself multiple times, creating a cylindrical geometry. This curvature eliminates the hard flat edges that cause abrasion, replacing them with rounded surfaces that are gentler on ropes and reduce wear at tie-in points.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular structure is created by nesting the webbing strap within itself through multiple folds, where the strap is folded back onto itself to form concentric layers. This nested configuration eliminates external hard edges while maintaining structural integrity through the layered arrangement.
2Shape
If a flat webbing strap with overlapping wraps is used, then the loop structure can be formed, but the seam between overlap and wraps becomes a weak point under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular structure is formed by folding the webbing strap back on itself multiple times, creating nested layers where each fold is contained within the previous one. This nested configuration distributes stress throughout the entire tubular structure rather than concentrating it at a single seam location, eliminating the weak point problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous tubular structure is divided into multiple folded segments or layers, where each fold acts as an independent load-bearing element. This segmentation distributes the mechanical stress across numerous folded sections rather than relying on a single continuous seam, significantly improving overall strength.
3Volume of moving object
If the webbing strap is folded tightly to reduce size, then the loop becomes more compact, but the material becomes stiffer and less supple
Solution Approach 1:
The webbing strap is folded back on itself multiple times to create a compact nested tubular structure. The nested configuration allows the material to maintain flexibility at each fold while achieving overall compactness, as the layered structure can bend and flex without creating rigid corners or edges.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular structure functions as a flexible shell that maintains suppleness through its cylindrical geometry. The rounded surfaces and continuous curved form allow the structure to bend and flex easily, preventing the stiffness that would otherwise result from tight folding or corner formation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A securing ring (22), such as a belay loop, comprises several layers of ring shaped surface sections (24, 26, 28), wherein the outermost ring shaped surface section (24) is fixed to at least one of the layers below, wherein the ring shaped surface sections (24, 26, 28) are formed from surface sections of a flat tubular element folded or rolled upon one another. The corresponding process for the manufacture of the securing ring (22) involves the folding or rolling up of a flat tubular element.