Adjustable Hand Tool With Tooth-Slot Locking Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wrenches are often too short and straight, making it difficult to reach objects in narrow or obstructed spaces, limiting their operational flexibility and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An angularly adjustable hand tool design featuring a shaft with positioning slots and a control member that allows for rotational adjustment and locking, enabling the tool to be positioned optimally for various tasks while maintaining stability through gapless surface contact between tooth and slot components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional straight wrench is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot reach objects in narrow or obstructed spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The wrench handle is designed with an adjustable angle mechanism that allows the user to change the angle between the handle and the driving portion dynamically. This enables the tool to adapt to different working spaces and obstacle configurations, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrench is divided into multiple segments including the handle, the driving portion, and an intermediate adjustable section. This segmentation allows the handle angle to be adjusted independently while maintaining the integrity of the driving portion, enabling access to narrow spaces without overly complicating the overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the handle angle is made adjustable to reach obstructed spaces, then operational flexibility is improved, but the stability and reliability of the tool may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The wrench incorporates a locking mechanism that pre-positions the handle at specific angles before operation. This preliminary action ensures that the tool achieves both angular adjustability for flexibility and secure locking for stability, preventing slippage during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrench allows changes in the geometric parameter (handle angle) while maintaining structural integrity through controlled adjustment mechanisms. The angle can be changed to different discrete positions, providing operational flexibility while ensuring reliability at each locked position.
3Length of stationary object
If a longer wrench is used to reach obstructed spaces, then the working range is extended, but the tool becomes harder to control and operate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a uniformly long rigid wrench, the invention employs an adjustable angle mechanism that allows the effective working length to be optimized for each specific task. The user can adjust the handle angle to achieve the necessary reach while maintaining a manageable overall tool length for easy control.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand tool is provided, including: a first member; a second member; a shaft, connected with the first member, rotatably inserted to the second member, including positioning slots; and a control member, disposed on the second member, including at least one tooth; wherein the control member can be released by disengagement of the at least one tooth from the positioning slots so that the first and second members are rotatable relative to each other, and the control member can be locked by engagement of the at least one tooth within at least one of the positioning slots so that the first member is non-rotatable relative to the second member; wherein when the at least one tooth is engaged within at least one positioning slot, at least one blocking wall of the tooth is in gapless surface contact with at least one side wall of the slot.