Waterproof Slide Fastener Fin-Shaped Sealing Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterproof slide fasteners face issues with maintaining a fluid-tight seal under extreme conditions and during manufacturing, as the waterproof layer can be easily disturbed or misaligned, leading to water ingress, especially when grease is used in the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
The design features a fin-shaped waterproof layer with a bulbous end that aligns perfectly with the coupling elements, reducing the void between the sealing lips and preventing slippage, ensuring a tight seal even when exposed to grease and extreme weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a soft covering layer is used to create a fluid-tight seal, then waterproofing is improved, but the sealing lips become easily disturbed and misaligned during manufacturing and use
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing lips are formed with a curved, bulbous end configuration instead of flat edges. This curvature allows the sealing surfaces to conform to each other more effectively, maintaining alignment and preventing water ingress even when subjected to manufacturing variations or grease contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the waterproof layer by creating fin-shaped protrusions with specific dimensions and curvature. The bulbous end configuration with controlled radius and height ratios ensures optimal sealing pressure distribution and alignment tolerance, resolving the contradiction between seal reliability and manufacturing precision.
2Ease of operation
If grease is applied to ease slide fastener motion, then ease of operation is improved, but the sealing lips become distorted and misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different functional qualities to different regions of the waterproof layer. The fin-shaped protrusions with bulbous ends are specifically designed to resist grease-induced distortion, while other portions of the waterproof layer maintain flexibility for ease of operation. This localized functional differentiation resolves the contradiction between operational ease and seal reliability.
3Reliability
If the waterproof layer extends beyond the coupling elements, then waterproofing is improved, but it interferes with the interdigitation of coupling elements
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproof layer is segmented into distinct fin-shaped protrusions that are strategically positioned and sized. These segmented structures allow water to be blocked at multiple points along the sealing path, maintaining waterproofing effectiveness while minimizing interference with coupling element interdigitation. The segmentation principle resolves the contradiction between seal reliability and device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A waterproof slide fastener is provided. A pair of tapes has coupling elements (220) attached thereto. A coating of polymeric material (242) is provided on at least one surface of the tape and extends continuously therealong. The coating includes in cross-section a fin (230) with a bulbous region (241). The coating is not extendable beyond the coupling elements when the slide fastener is in an open arrangement.