Stabilizing Fins for Zipper Alignment and Rigidity
Solution Overview
Problem
Slidable closures, such as zippers, are difficult to operate, especially in bulky garments or for individuals with limited dexterity or poor eyesight, due to small and hard-to-align components like the insertion pin and retainer box, which can be exacerbated by wearing gloves or mittens.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating stabilizing fins along the bottom portion of the slidable closure to provide additional rigidity and aid in aligning the insertion pin and retainer box, making it easier to couple and uncouple the zipper, while maintaining flexibility to avoid discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the insertion pin and retainer box are made small to maintain a compact zipper structure, then the zipper can be integrated into bulky garments, but alignment and coupling become difficult especially for users with limited dexterity or poor eyesight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces stabilizing fins as intermediary elements between the user's fingers and the small insertion pin/retainer box components. These fins extend from the zipper tapes and provide enlarged surfaces that are easier to grasp and manipulate, serving as mediators that bridge the gap between the user's limited dexterity and the small precision components needed for zipper operation
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing fins extend perpendicular to the plane of the zipper tapes, adding a third dimension to the interaction interface. This vertical extension provides additional grasping surfaces and tactile feedback that help users with limited dexterity or poor eyesight locate and manipulate the insertion pin and retainer box, effectively transforming a two-dimensional problem into a three-dimensional solution
2Stability of the object's composition
If stabilizing fins are made more rigid to improve alignment stability, then the fins can better support the insertion pin and retainer box, but the fins may become uncomfortable against the user's skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the stabilizing fin structure. The portion of the fin that contacts the user's skin is made from a softer, more compliant material to reduce discomfort, while the portion that provides structural support and alignment stability is made from a more rigid material. This local differentiation of material quality allows the fin to simultaneously provide both comfort and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing fins are constructed from composite materials that combine a rigid support layer with a softer comfort layer. This composite structure allows the fin to maintain its shape and provide stable alignment guidance while the softer outer layer prevents skin irritation and discomfort during use
Data Source
AI summary
A slidable closure includes a first fastener tape and a second fastener tape and a stabilizing fin. A first row of fastener elements extends along a first fastener tape longitudinal edge. A retainer box is positioned near first fastener tape bottom edge and adjacent a bottom fastener element of the first row of fastener elements. A second row of fastener elements extends along a second fastener tape longitudinal edge and is configured to selectively interlock with the first row of fastener elements. An insertion pin is positioned near the second fastener tape bottom edge. The stabilizing fin is more rigid than the first fastener tape and is substantially planar. The stabilizing fin is coupled with the first fastener tape to extend upwardly from a first fastener tape bottom edge and defines a first edge closest to the first row of fastener elements.