Ergonomic Handheld Concrete Screed with Angled Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screed devices, particularly hand-operated ones, are cumbersome, require multiple operators, and often result in uneven concrete slabs due to edge penetration or rising above the surface, leading to back strain for users.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, portable, and ergonomic handheld screed with a L-shaped beam and adjustable handle that allows for easy assembly and disassembly, featuring a threaded connection system and angled design to reduce back strain and improve handling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a long 2x4 board is used as a hand screed, then the screeding function is achieved, but back strain occurs due to the weight and length
Solution Approach 1:
The screed is divided into multiple components: a lightweight beam (2-4 feet long), a handle, and connection hardware. This segmentation allows the workman to handle a shorter, lighter beam while the handle provides leverage, reducing back strain while maintaining screeding effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is positioned at an angle (20°-40°) relative to the beam, creating a three-dimensional configuration. This angular arrangement allows the workman to apply force more efficiently through the handle rather than directly on the beam, reducing the physical strain on the back.
2Productivity
If power screeds with rigid side forms are used, then screeding capability is provided, but the device becomes cumbersome and requires multiple operators
Solution Approach 1:
The power screed is segmented into a removable handle assembly and a beam, allowing the beam to be used independently for smaller tasks or combined with the handle for larger tasks. This modular approach reduces the complexity and number of operators needed compared to rigid, integrated power screeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the handle and beam uses threaded retaining members that allow for adjustable and removable connections. This dynamic configuration enables the device to adapt to different job sizes and requirements, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining screeding capability.
3Extent of automation
If power operated screeds are used, then automated screeding is achieved, but the slab surface becomes uneven due to edge penetration or rising above the surface
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using powered vibration that can cause edges to penetrate or rise, the invention uses manual operation with a lightweight beam that allows the workman to maintain consistent contact and pressure across the entire beam surface, achieving better surface flatness through human control rather than automated mechanical force.
4Weight of moving object
If a handheld screed is designed to be lightweight and portable, then ease of handling is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The beam is constructed from composite materials or optimized material combinations that provide high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the beam to be lightweight and portable while maintaining the structural integrity necessary for effective screeding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The screed system is segmented into a lightweight beam and a separate handle assembly connected by threaded retaining members. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the beam for lightweight portability and the handle for operational strength - while maintaining overall structural integrity through the connection mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand screed for screeding fluid material includes an elongated beam having a bottom surface for disposal adjacent a surface to be screeded and an elongated handle removably connected to the beam.