Adjustable Pliers Pivot Pin with Angled Slot Tactile Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable hand tools with multiple pivoting centers require complex manipulation and visual confirmation for proper centering, making them difficult to use effectively.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable tool design featuring a pivot pin connected by a channel with non-adjacent terminal and intermediate pivot centers, where the pivot pin travels through at least one intermediate center, providing a positive tactile indication of proper seating, and the slots are angled or offset to ensure accurate alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pivoting centers are used to accommodate varying workpiece sizes, then the tool's adaptability is improved, but the manipulation complexity increases and requires visual confirmation for proper centering
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot pin is designed to automatically snap into the correct pivot center position through the angled slot mechanism, eliminating the need for user intervention or visual confirmation. The tool self-regulates the positioning through mechanical guidance built into the slot geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The angled slot acts as an intermediary element between the pivot pin and the pivot centers. It guides the pivot pin's movement and automatically positions it at the correct center without requiring direct user manipulation or visual alignment
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pivoting centers are used to accommodate varying workpiece sizes, then the tool's adaptability is improved, but visual confirmation is required for proper centering
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot pin automatically snaps into the correct pivot center position through the angled slot mechanism, eliminating the need for user intervention or visual confirmation. The tool self-regulates the positioning through mechanical guidance built into the slot geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The angled slot mechanism provides tactile feedback through the positive snap-fit action, allowing the user to feel when the pivot pin has correctly engaged with a pivot center, eliminating the need for visual confirmation
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjoined slots are used to connect pivot centers, then the pathway is provided, but the manipulation becomes unnecessarily complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate slots are merged into a single continuous angled slot that guides the pivot pin through all necessary positions. This consolidation simplifies the mechanism by eliminating the need for complex multi-slot navigation while maintaining all functional pathways
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed herein an improved adjustable tool, such as a pair of pliers, having a first jaw portion and a second jaw portion, the first and second jaw portions being pivotably connected to one another by a pivot pin attached in any manner to one of the jaw portions and fitted within a channel defined within the other of the jaw portions. Preferably, the channel is formed by a plurality of pivot centers, including two non-adjacent terminal centers and at least one intermediate center, each center being connected to at least one other center by a slot to form a single pathway such that travel of the pivot pin between non-adjacent pivot centers requires travel through at least one intermediate pivot center, and the pivot pin has a positive tactile indication when properly seated in each pivot center.