Bucket Hook Tether Hole and Gated Hooks for Tool Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bucket hooks are limited in weight capacity and tool retention, often causing tools to fall and pose a risk of injury or damage when workers are elevated in bucket trucks or lifts.
Innovation Solution
A bucket hook device with a tether hole and multiple hooks of varying sizes, including a larger hook with a gate to secure items, designed to prevent tool drops and enhance tool carrying capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional bucket hooks are used, then the device structure is simple, but the weight capacity is limited and tool retention is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The bucket hook device is divided into multiple independent hooks of varying sizes (large hook, medium hook, small hook) instead of a single hook structure. Each hook can independently hold different tools, distributing the weight load and preventing any single point of failure. This segmentation allows the device to handle heavier total weights while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-hook device serves multiple functions simultaneously: the large hook handles heavy tools, the medium hook holds lighter items, and the small hook secures small accessories. Additionally, the gate mechanism provides a locking function for extra security. This multi-functionality increases weight capacity without requiring separate devices for each tool type, maintaining overall structural efficiency.
2Reliability
If conventional bucket hooks are used, then the hook structure is simple, but tools frequently fall off the hooks
Solution Approach 1:
Different hooks are designed with specific local qualities suited to their intended tools: the large hook has a larger opening and deeper curve for heavy tools, the medium hook has moderate dimensions for standard tools, and the small hook has a compact design for small accessories. This localized optimization ensures each tool type is retained by the most appropriate hook geometry, preventing drops without requiring complex universal retention mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate mechanism is designed to be positioned over the hook opening before tools are placed, creating a preliminary barrier that prevents tools from sliding off. The gate can be closed after tool placement to secure items in the opening, providing advance protection against tool drops rather than relying on tool-specific features or user action during tool placement.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional bucket hooks are used, then the device is simple, but the number of tools that can be held is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple hooks of different sizes, each capable of holding one or more tools simultaneously. The large hook can accommodate bulky tools, the medium hook holds standard-sized tools, and the small hook secures small accessories. This segmentation multiplies the total number of tools the device can hold compared to a single hook, while the modular nature keeps the overall structure relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The hooks are arranged in a vertical dimension along the bucket hook device, utilizing the vertical space available on the bucket. This vertical arrangement allows multiple hooks to be stacked or positioned at different heights, increasing the quantity of tools that can be held without significantly increasing the horizontal footprint or overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment the bucket hook including a body formed by a first arm, a second arm, and a bucket receiving portion extending along a first longitudinal axis which joins the first and second arms, the first and second arms each contain a first elongated portion extending from respective ends of the bucket receiving portion in the same direction and at an angle to the first longitudinal axis and defining a channel therebetween; and a hole defined by the first arm. The bucket hook is dimensioned to go over the side of a bucket on a bucket truck or elevated lift. These features allow a worker to carry more tools to a significant height in order to carry out tasks while preventing accidents.