Asymmetric Hand Tool Anti-Slip Handle Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand tools with soft handles face difficulties in applying sufficient force, especially when crimping strong workpieces, due to increased friction which makes it hard to press the handles together using only hand force.

Innovation Solution

An asymmetric hand tool design featuring a low-friction surface on one handle and an anti-slip device on the other, allowing users to leverage body weight by leaning on a support surface to apply forces exceeding hand strength, while maintaining control and preventing unintended sliding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If soft covering is applied on handles to increase comfort, then comfort in holding the tool is improved, but friction between user's fingers and moving handle increases making it harder to press handles together

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort in holding the toolVSAvoidforce required to press handles together
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The handle surface is segmented into two distinct zones: a stationary handle with soft friction-reducing covering and a moving handle with anti-slip device. This segmentation allows each zone to serve its specific function - the stationary handle reduces friction for comfortable gripping while the moving handle provides high friction for force application, resolving the contradiction between comfort and force application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different surface properties are applied to different parts of the handle system. The stationary handle receives soft covering with low friction characteristics for comfort, while the moving handle receives anti-slip device with high friction characteristics for force application. This local differentiation of surface quality resolves the contradiction by providing optimal properties in each location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Force

If hard surface with low friction is used on handles, then force application is improved, but comfort in holding the tool deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce required to press handles togetherVSAvoidcomfort in holding the tool
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handle system is divided into two functional segments: a stationary handle with soft low-friction covering for comfort and a moving handle with anti-slip device for high force application. This segmentation allows the tool to achieve both low friction for comfort and high friction for force application in different locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handle design is asymmetric with different surface treatments on the stationary and moving handles. The stationary handle has soft covering while the moving handle has anti-slip device, creating asymmetric friction characteristics that optimize both comfort and force application capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Ease of operation

If soft covering is applied on handles, then comfort is improved, but the tool sliding control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort in holding the toolVSAvoidtool sliding control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The handle system is segmented into stationary and moving components with different surface properties. The stationary handle with soft covering provides comfort and stable positioning, while the moving handle with anti-slip device provides sliding control during operation, resolving the contradiction between comfort and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-slip device on the moving handle acts as an intermediary element that provides high friction contact with the workpiece while the soft covering on the stationary handle provides comfortable contact with the user's hand. This intermediary arrangement allows the tool to maintain both comfort and sliding control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and controlled application of forces beyond hand strength for crimping operations without compromising comfort or stability, facilitating reliable crimping of strong workpieces.

Implementation Method 1

the friction between the users fingers and a moving handle increases compared to having the users fingers slide along a hard handle with lower friction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2179820B1Hand tool with anti-slip device
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 PRESSMASTER
  • EP2179820B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2179820B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2179820B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a hand tool (2) comprising handles (4, 6; 5, 7) and jaws (12, 14), where the jaws (12, 14) are operated by the handles (4, 6; 5, 7), where an anti-slip device (20) is arranged on the outer side (22) of the distal end (24) of a tool handle (4; 5, 7), that said tool handle (4; 5, 7) has a hard surface (26; 28, 30) with low friction enabling the users fingers to slide on the surface (26; 28, 30) of said handle (4; 5, 7) when squeezing the handles (4, 6; 5, 7) together, and that the anti-slip device (20) is arranged to be supported against a support surface (23) in order for the user to be able to press the tool handles (4, 6; 5, 7) together in a controlled manner using a force (F) in excess of hand force.