Nestable Cart Handle Lockout Wedge Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lockout devices for tubular handles of shopping carts are sensitive to loosening and fail to reliably adapt to handles of different diameters, leading to insecure attachment.
Innovation Solution
A lockout device with a support member and clamping screw that uses a guide ramp to wedge the support member in place, providing a secure grip and allowing adjustment for various handle diameters through the positioning of the support member, enhanced by an inclined clamping screw and needle screws for additional stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sliding jaw fixed by a screw is used to grip the tubular handle, then the device can adapt to handles of different diameters, but the attachment becomes very sensitive to loosening and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed to be movable relative to the housing, allowing it to adjust its position dynamically to fit different handle diameters. The support member can slide along the housing and be positioned at different locations to accommodate varying handle sizes, providing adaptability while maintaining reliable attachment through the guide ramp mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ramp acts as an intermediary element between the support member and the housing. It provides a guided path that controls the movement and positioning of the support member, ensuring that the support member remains stable and reliable while still allowing adjustment for different handle diameters
2Ease of manufacture
If the housing is designed with a fixed flange to secure the handle, then the attachment is simple, but it cannot adapt to handles of different diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the housing provides the basic securement, the support member provides the adjustable gripping function, and the guide ramp provides the guiding mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively providing both simplicity and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions: it provides the basic securement structure, contains the locking mechanism, and incorporates the guide ramp for positioning the support member. The support member itself is multi-functional, providing both the gripping surface and the adjustment capability. This multi-functionality maintains simplicity while enabling adaptability to different handle diameters
3Manufacturing precision
If the clamping screw is used to tighten the support member, then the support member can be positioned accurately, but the system becomes sensitive to inadvertent loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ramp converts the potential harm of screw loosening into a benefit by providing a mechanical interlock. When the support member is tightened against the handle, the guide ramp engages with the support member's positioning surface, creating a mechanical interlock that prevents inadvertent loosening while maintaining the positioning precision achieved during assembly
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
The solution provides a reliable and adaptable attachment method that minimizes the risk of inadvertent loosening and allows easy adjustment for different handle diameters, ensuring a secure and stable lockout device installation.
Implementation Method 1
a support member (20) and a clamping screw (24) intended to cooperate with said casing (12) in order to be able to clamp said transverse handle (14) between said support member (20) and said receiving surface (18), said casing (12) having a guide ramp (44) located in the vicinity of said surface receiving to guide said support member (20) in translation towards said receiving surface (18). Said clamping screw (24) is intended to cause the buttressing of said support member (20) on said guide ramp (44)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a locking device (10) having a transverse handle (14), said device comprising on the one hand a housing (12) having a receiving surface (18) suitable for receiving said transverse handle (14), and on the other hand a support member (20) and a clamping screw (24) intended to cooperate with said housing (12) in order to be able to clamp said transverse handle (14) between said support member (20) and said receiving surface (18), said housing (12) having a guide ramp (44) located in the vicinity of said receiving surface (18) to guide said support member (20) in translation towards said receiving surface (18). The said clamping screw (24) is intended to cause the said support member (20) to brace itself on the said guide rail (44) when the said support member (20) bears against the said transverse handle (14) so as to wedge the said support member (20) in the said housing (12).