Waterproof Light Strip End Cover with Mechanical Buckle Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterproof silicone light strips require a lengthy curing process for end cap sealing, making it inconvenient to splice and reconnect, as users must wait for the silicone rubber to fully cure before use.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof cover for light strip ends featuring a recess with waterproof gel and flexible plastic straps connected to buckle mechanisms with anti-loosening functions, allowing for quick assembly and disassembly without tools, ensuring a secure and watertight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silicone rubber is used to cover and cure the end surface, then waterproof sealing is achieved, but the curing process takes 24 hours which reduces productivity and convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical curing process of silicone rubber with a mechanical fastening system consisting of a buckle mechanism and sealing structure. The buckle mechanism provides immediate mechanical fixation without requiring chemical curing time, thus substituting a chemical process with a mechanical one to eliminate the 24-hour waiting period while maintaining waterproof sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing liquid is pre-filled in the sealing cavity before the light strip end is inserted. This preliminary preparation allows the sealing to be effective immediately upon insertion and buckling, without requiring post-installation curing time. The sealing structure is ready in advance to provide immediate waterproof protection
2Reliability
If the end cap is put on with silicone rubber curing, then waterproofing is achieved, but the process becomes troublesome and inconvenient for users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inconvenient chemical curing operation with a simple mechanical buckling operation. Users only need to insert the light strip end and buckle the mechanism, which provides immediate waterproofing without requiring users to wait for curing or perform complex sealing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The buckle mechanism is designed to be self-contained and self-explanatory, requiring no special tools or skills. The structure itself guides the user through the installation process, making it intuitively understandable and easy to operate without requiring users to know about curing processes or special handling procedures
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple end cap structure is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but waterproof reliability deteriorates due to the need for additional sealing materials and processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function, fastening function, and protective function into a single integrated end cap structure. The sealing liquid, sealing cavity, and buckle mechanism are combined in one component that performs multiple functions simultaneously, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving reliable waterproofing through functional integration rather than additional separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The end cap structure is designed as a multi-functional component that provides waterproof sealing, mechanical fastening, and physical protection all in one unit. This universal design eliminates the need for separate sealing materials and application processes, maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring comprehensive waterproof reliability through multiple functions working together
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
Enables rapid and secure sealing of light strip ends without tools, preventing seal failure and protecting the waterproof gel from environmental degradation with weather-resistant materials, ensuring a reliable and efficient waterproofing solution.
Implementation Method 1
the surface of the waterproof gel adheres to the light strip end
Implementation Method 2
the end of the light strip body squeezes the waterproof gel in the recess
Implementation Method 3
the material of the end cover main body is nylon sandwiched with glass fiber, and the end cover main body has good weather resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A waterproof cover for light strip end, comprising an end cover main body, wherein a recess is formed on an inner side the main body end cover, and waterproof gel is placed in the recess, and two groups of flexible plastic straps are connected symmetrically on both sides of the main body end cover, and t straps are connected with buckle mechanisms. Insert an end of the light strip body into the recess, so that the end of the light strip body squeezes the waterproof gel, and then flip the two groups of flip covers towards each other. The flip covers and flexible plastic straps move towards each other. The teeth on the plastic buckle squeeze each other, thereby causing the main body of the plastic buckle to bend and deform until the teeth engage with each other, so that the two groups of flap covers are fixedly connected.