Two-Way Slide Fastener for Garment Extender Reversibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slide fasteners can only be joined at a single extremity after disengagement, leading to unnatural top-to-bottom engagement when garment extenders are flipped for baby carrying, as the wide and narrow portions switch positions, causing the bottom and top edges to switch places.

Innovation Solution

A two-way slide fastener design featuring first and second stringers with teeth and sliders that can be attached or detached from both ends, using retainer and separable pins to secure or release the stringers, allowing for reversible attachment and detachment without requiring specific slider positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional slide fasteners are configured to engage from the bottom during pregnancy, then the wide portion can accommodate the expanding belly, but the slide fastener becomes unnatural when flipped for baby carrying

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different usage modesVSAvoidnatural engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The slide fastener is divided into two independent stringers (first stringer with first teeth, second stringer with second teeth) that can be separately attached and detached. Each stringer can be engaged independently from either end, allowing the garment extender to be flipped and reconfigured for different usage modes without constraint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The slide fastener is designed with dual engagement capability - both the first slider and second slider can engage their respective stringers from either the first end or second end. This universal engagement capability allows the same slide fastener to function naturally whether the garment extender is oriented for pregnancy use or baby carrying use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the slide fastener allows attachment from both ends, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional retainers and separable pins

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereversible attachmentVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is segmented into modular components: first retainer pin, second retainer pin, first separable pin, and second separable pin. Each pin operates independently at its respective end, allowing simplified attachment/detachment procedures while maintaining overall system functionality without complex interdependencies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Retainer pins and separable pins serve as intermediary elements that facilitate the attachment and detachment of stringers. These pins mediate between the sliders and the tape ends, enabling reversible attachment while keeping the overall structure manageable through standardized pin mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11304483B2Two-way slide fastener

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 MCHUGH MICHAEL BENJAMIN

AI summary

A slide fastener including two stringers and a pair of sliders mounted to one of the stringers. When first separated from each other, the first and second stringers can be secured to each other using the sliders starting at either end thereof. Also, a garment extender including the slide fastener.