Adjusting Pliers With Ratcheting Jaw Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pliers devices lack effective stabilizing and alignment features, making it difficult to grip articles of varying sizes and requiring excessive force, with a tendency for teeth to catch during adjustment.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a top jaw with a slot and series of ridges, a pin extending through the slot, and an engagement element that moves along a first axis to engage or disengage with the ridges, providing adjustable pliers with a supporting wall for stability and alignment, allowing for precise gripping and easy adjustment through a ratcheting mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a button mechanism is used to release engagement of members, then the jaws can be moved relative to one another to adjust spacing, but the device lacks stabilizing and alignment features causing teeth to catch during adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
A pin acts as an intermediary element that engages with ridges on the movable jaw to provide stable positioning at discrete intervals. The pin serves as a mediator between the user's adjustment action and the jaw positioning, preventing unstable movement and tooth catching while maintaining adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment range is segmented into discrete positions defined by ridges on the movable jaw. Instead of continuous adjustment, the jaw is divided into specific stopping positions along its travel path, providing stable, catch-free positioning at each segment while maintaining overall adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the jaws are designed to grip articles of varying size, then versatility is improved, but excessive user force is required and alignment is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The movable jaw is designed to dynamically move along a controlled path defined by the slot and ridge geometry. This dynamic positioning system allows the jaw to automatically align with the article being gripped while maintaining versatility for different sizes, reducing the force needed by providing mechanical guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin-ridge mechanism serves as an intermediary that translates user input into precise, low-force jaw positioning. The ridges act as mechanical guides that reduce friction and misalignment, allowing versatile size adjustment with minimal user force.
3Device complexity
If the engagement element is fixed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the pin cannot move along the slot to engage different ridges for adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement element (pin) is made movable along the slot while remaining structurally simple. This dynamic capability allows the pin to engage different ridges corresponding to different jaw positions, providing adjustment versatility without adding complex mechanisms. The pin moves freely within the constraints of the slot geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for clamping an object, in particular, the device includes a top jaw having a bottom handle, a slot, and a series of ridges around the slot and top handle with distal end including joint pegs. A pin or button, which includes an engagement element, is provided for extending through the slot. The bottom jaw can include recess for receiving a pin or button. The bottom jaw can include at least one detent adapted to receive at least one part of the top of at least one handle. In addition, a bottom jaw is adapted to connect with a distinct part of at least one handle that is adapted for receiving the pin. The top jaw and bottom jaw pivot about an axis of the pin, and the engagement element is moveable along the same axis from a first position to a second position.