Two-Piece Cable Slider with Dovetail Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic chain/cable sliders require tools for installation or removal, posing hazards and inefficiencies for stagehands working at heights during concert tours, industrial shows, and Broadway performances.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece chain/cable slider design that dovetails together without tools or loose fasteners, using a locking mechanism with a central shaft and screw to securely attach to cables or chains, allowing for tool-free assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing plastic chain/cable sliders use multiple fasteners and tools for installation, then the locking mechanism is secure, but the installation and removal process becomes cumbersome and hazardous when working at heights
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is divided into two separate halves that can be independently handled and assembled. Each half contains a portion of the locking mechanism, allowing the components to be attached to the chain or cable separately and then joined together without requiring tools or multiple fasteners, thereby maintaining security while enabling tool-free installation
Solution Approach 2:
The two halves of the slider are designed to join together through integrated locking surfaces and engagement features. The locking mechanism is combined into the structural design of the halves themselves, eliminating the need for separate fasteners and tools while maintaining secure attachment
2Reliability
If existing sliders require tools for installation and removal, then the connection is secure, but loose tools and parts become a hazard when working at heights
Solution Approach 1:
The need for external tools is extracted and eliminated from the installation process. The locking mechanism is integrated directly into the slider halves themselves, allowing installation and removal to be performed by hand without dropping tools or fasteners, thereby eliminating the falling hazard while maintaining secure connection
Solution Approach 2:
The slider halves are designed with self-contained locking features that engage automatically when the halves are joined. The structure itself provides the locking function without requiring external tools or separate fasteners, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating hazards associated with tool handling at heights
3Reliability
If existing sliders use multiple fasteners, then the attachment is secure, but the number of parts increases making the process more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is segmented into two halves, each containing integrated locking surfaces and engagement features. This segmentation eliminates the need for multiple separate fasteners, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining secure attachment through the distributed locking surfaces built into each half
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening function is merged into the structural design of the two slider halves themselves. The locking surfaces and engagement features are combined with the body of each half, eliminating the need for separate fasteners and reducing device complexity while maintaining attachment security
Data Source
AI summary
A device which can slide up and down on a chain or cable, can be loosened to attach to the chain or cable, but does not have any parts that come free when the part is loosened. The device includes first and second pieces, each made of structural material, the first and second pieces fitting together at concave and convex surfaces, to form an interlock forms inner surfaces with a through hole of a first shape that can slide along either a cable or a chain.