Unitary Padded Strap With Seamless Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing padded straps face issues such as snagging, breaking, and tearing due to separate construction, stitching, or insertion methods, which compromise comfort and durability.
Innovation Solution
A unitary strap member forming a tube with a pad casing section and a flat section, featuring a hollow, tapering transition area and a sealable opening for inserting a resilient, low-friction pad, which is retained within the pad casing section, eliminating the need for stitching and reducing snagging risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate padded pieces are threaded onto the strap in a serpentine pattern, then the pad can slide to various places on the strap, but the separate construction makes it susceptible to breaking, tearing, or separating from the strap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the strap and pad into a single integrated construction where the pad is formed from the same continuous material as the strap. This eliminates separate components and their connection points, resolving the contradiction by providing both durability (no separation possible) and adaptability (pad can still be positioned anywhere along the continuous strap).
2Adaptability or versatility
If a sliding pad is used, then the pad can be moved to various places on the strap, but it is easily snagged on other objects such as the wearer's clothes
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the pad as part of the continuous strap material rather than a separate sliding component, the invention eliminates the independent sliding motion that causes snagging. The pad remains movable along the strap by repositioning it during manufacturing or use, but without creating protruding edges or separate surfaces that catch on objects.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If padded material is stitched to the outside of the strap, then the stationary location reduces snagging, but the transition area creates susceptibility to breaking or tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a seamless transition between padded and non-padded areas by forming both from the same continuous material. The gradual transition zone is inherent in the single-piece construction, eliminating the need for stitching or bonding at transition points and thus preventing weakness or failure at those locations.
4Ease of manufacture
If three separate pieces are stitched together with the middle piece being the padded section, then the strap can be constructed, but the stitching or fusing creates susceptibility to breaking or tearing at the joints
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges three separate pieces (two strap ends and one padded middle section) into a single continuous piece of material. This eliminates all joints, stitching, or fusing points that would create weak spots, while still allowing for manufacturing through continuous forming processes that create the padded section as an integral part of the strap.
5Ease of manufacture
If padding is inserted through a temporary or permanent hole in the strap, then the pad can be added, but the pad size is limited by the hole size and it is difficult to retain the desired shape
Solution Approach 1:
By forming the pad and strap from the same continuous material in a single manufacturing process, the invention eliminates the need for holes or openings. The pad material is molded or formed directly into the strap structure, allowing for any desired pad size and shape without constraints from pre-existing openings, while the continuous material inherently retains the desired shape.
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 provides a durable and comfortable padded strap with reduced snagging and increased durability by integrating the pad seamlessly within the strap, ensuring consistent material properties and preventing separation.
Implementation Method 1
The pad can have an outer layer of a resilient, low-friction material and a cushioning layer
Data Source
AI summary
A padded strap is provided, which comprises a unitary strap member forming a tube and an inserted pad. The unitary strap member has at least two sections, at least one of the sections configured to form a pad casing section which can retain the inserted pad, and the another section comprising a substantially flat section abutting the pad casing section. The area between the pad casing section and the substantially flat section comprises a hollow, tapering transition area. The unitary strap member comprises at least one sealable opening at an end of the unitary strap member. The inserted pad is inserted through the sealable opening and retained in the pad casing section, and the pad is comprised of at least one outer layer of resilient, low-friction material and a cushioning layer.