Unidirectional Hook Fastener Flap for Quiet Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hook-and-loop fasteners generate noise during engagement and disengagement, which is undesirable in applications like hunting or military garments, and there is a need for quieter fastening solutions with infinite adjustment capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A pouch or pocket fastening system featuring a hook fastener component with hooks oriented in a common direction and an elastically stretchable flap that maintains shear load on engaged hooks, allowing secure engagement and quiet disengagement by stretching the flap to reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hook-and-loop fasteners are used, then secure engagement and infinite adjustment capabilities are achieved, but noise is generated during engagement and disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the hooks from random or bidirectional to predominantly unidirectional (at least 80% facing one direction). This parameter change modifies the engagement mechanism so that loops engage with the front faces of hooks, and disengagement requires stretching the flap to pull loops off the hook tips, significantly reducing the noise generated during both engagement and disengagement while maintaining secure closure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the hook orientation distribution, with at least 80% of hooks facing a common direction. This asymmetric arrangement creates a directional engagement mechanism where the majority of hooks engage in one direction, and disengagement is achieved by stretching the material to pull loops off the hook tips, thereby reducing the noisy snapping action of traditional bidirectional hooks
2Object-generated harmful factors
If hooks are oriented in a common direction to reduce noise, then noise during disengagement is reduced, but engagement strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the hook orientation parameter to at least 80% unidirectional, which reduces noise while maintaining sufficient engagement strength through the directional engagement mechanism where loops engage with front faces and require stretching for disengagement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional qualities to different regions of the fastening system: the hook orientation provides directional engagement for noise reduction, while the elastic material properties provide the necessary shear load maintenance for secure engagement. This local differentiation of properties allows both noise reduction and strength requirements to be satisfied simultaneously
3Object-generated harmful factors
If elastic material is used to maintain shear load on hooks, then quiet disengagement is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by specifying elastic material with appropriate shear modulus to maintain shear load on engaged hooks. This material property change enables quiet disengagement through stretching without requiring additional mechanical components, thus achieving noise reduction with minimal increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains shear load on engaged hooks for secure closure, and enables quiet disengagement by allowing stretching to pull loops off hook tips. This self-service capability of the material eliminates the need for additional mechanisms, keeping the device simple while achieving noise reduction
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 system ensures secure closure with minimal noise during engagement and quiet disengagement by maintaining shear load on hooks, addressing the noise issue in traditional fasteners while providing infinite adjustment capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The flap is elastically stretchable by pulling on its free edge, such that the flap maintains the loop fastener component securely engaged to the hook fastener component when under tension
Data Source
AI summary
A pouch having a flap and a closure system featuring a face fastener attached to the front wall of the pouch body, and a mating flap fastener as part of the flap. One fastener of the closure system is a loop fastener component carrying a field of hook-engageable fibers. The other fastener of the closure system is a hook fastener component with an array of hooks. A significant majority of the hooks are oriented such that their heads point in a common lateral direction. The flap is elastically stretchable by pulling on its free edge, such that the flap maintains the loop fastener component securely engaged to the hook fastener component when under tension, and such that stretching the flap reduces engagement between the loop fastener component and the hook fastener component.