Web-Adjustment Housing Cam Surface for Buckle Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional buckle assemblies have small web channels that are difficult to navigate and can damage webbing or straps, with small teeth that often snag and tear the material, making it challenging to adjust the length of the webbing or strap securely.
Innovation Solution
A buckle member with a web-adjustment housing featuring a circuitous web channel defined by a receiving crossbar and a securing crossbar, including retaining members that provide a secure engagement without damaging the webbing, and a release channel that allows for easy adjustment, with angled surfaces to prevent snagging and ensure secure retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If small teeth are used to retain webbing, then retention strength is improved, but webbing damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometry parameters of the retaining feature by replacing small teeth with a large-radius cam surface. This parameter change allows the webbing to be retained securely through the camming action while avoiding the snagging and tearing caused by sharp teeth, thus resolving the contradiction between retention strength and webbing damage prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a cam surface with a large radius of curvature instead of sharp angular teeth. This curved surface distributes the contact pressure over a larger area and prevents stress concentration that would cause webbing damage, while still providing effective retention through the camming mechanism
2Device complexity
If small web channels are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional narrow planar web channel to a three-dimensional cam-based adjustment mechanism. This dimensional change creates a larger operational space that allows webbing to be easily inserted and adjusted, while the cam surface provides the necessary retention function, thus resolving the contradiction between simplicity and ease of operation
3Strength
If small teeth are used to secure webbing, then retention strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the retaining mechanism from small teeth to a large-radius cam surface with specific angular geometry. This parameter change enables the webbing to be easily adjusted along the cam surface while the camming action provides strong retention, resolving the contradiction between retention strength and ease of adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
A web-adjustment housing of a buckle member may include a receiving crossbar, a securing crossbar, and a strut. The receiving crossbar may include a ledge that extends in a first direction at a first angle with respect to a plane that contains or is parallel to a longitudinal axis, and first retaining members configured to securely engage webbing. The securing crossbar may include a surface that extends in a second direction at a second angle with respect to the plane, and second retaining members extending from the surface configured to securely engage the webbing. A receiving channel may be defined between the receiving crossbar and the securing crossbar. A release channel may be defined between the securing crossbar and the strut. The receiving channel and the release channel may define at least a portion of a web channel configured to adjustably retain the webbing.