Adjustable Knee Lever for Sewing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knee levers for sewing machines lack adjustability to accommodate different user physiques, leading to poor operability due to fixed positioning, which complicates user experience and machine structure.
Innovation Solution
A knee lever with an adjustment mechanism that allows detachable attachment to the sewing machine, featuring an engagement portion and subject for adjustable mounting positions, and a link mechanism to adjust distance between the lever and knee rest, ensuring user-preferred positioning without altering the sewing machine's configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the knee lever is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the operability deteriorates due to inability to accommodate different user physiques
Solution Approach 1:
The knee lever structure is made dynamically adjustable through the engagement mechanism. The lever body can be repositioned along the guide rail by engaging different positions with the adjustment mechanism, allowing the structure to adapt to different user needs while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The knee lever is divided into separable components: the lever body, the engagement portion with engagement protrusion, and the guide rail with engagement grooves. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the lever position without affecting the overall structure, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the knee lever is made adjustable to suit different users, then the operability improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-servicing through the engagement protrusion and engagement groove system. Users can independently adjust the lever position by simply moving the lever along the guide rail and engaging the protrusion with the desired groove, without requiring tools or complex procedures. This keeps the adjustment mechanism simple while providing full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides adjustable positioning, maintains structural integrity, and enables easy reconfiguration. The same engagement protrusion and groove system that provides adjustability also ensures secure mounting and stable operation, avoiding the need for separate complex mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the knee lever positioning is adjusted using screws and tools, then the positioning precision improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to troublesome adjustment procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional screw-based mechanical fastening system is replaced with a guide rail and engagement groove system. The lever body moves along the guide rail and is secured by engaging the engagement protrusion with the engagement groove, eliminating the need for screws and tools while maintaining precise positioning through the structured groove locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement grooves are pre-positioned at specific locations along the guide rail to provide predetermined accurate positioning points. The engagement protrusion is designed to fit into these pre-prepared grooves, ensuring precise positioning is achieved automatically when the lever is engaged, without requiring manual measurement or adjustment during the operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A knee lever a lever including a lever detachably attached to an attachment provided on a bed of a sewing machine; a knee rest mounted on the lever and operated by knee contact, with the lever being attached to the attachment; an adjustment mechanism allowing adjustment in position of knee contact of the knee rest; wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an engagement portion provided at the lever, and an engagement subject provided at the knee rest and being disengagably engaged with the engagement portion to switch a mounting position of the knee rest relative to the lever.