Clamp with Multi-Radius Latching and Axle Fulcrum
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamps with interlocking teeth fail to securely hold heavy weights over time due to design flaws such as long bodies allowing flex, ineffective arm closure mechanisms, and complex knotting systems for securing ropes or lines.
Innovation Solution
A clamp design featuring short arms with an axle as a fulcrum, providing lateral stability, and a unique tooth structure that arrests material movement, combined with a multi-radius latching system and a two-hook end for secure knotting, allowing for improved clamping power and easy line management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional clamps use long bodies to accommodate flex in design and material, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but clamping reliability deteriorates due to excessive flex causing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the critical parameter from arm length to axle diameter. By making the axle diameter greater than the arm width (d > w), the design achieves both manufacturing flexibility and clamping reliability. This parameter inversion resolves the contradiction by finding a different dimensional relationship that satisfies both requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from considering only arm length (one dimension) to incorporating axle diameter as a critical dimension. This dimensional shift allows the design to achieve stability through lateral support (another dimension) rather than relying solely on arm length, thereby resolving the contradiction between flexibility and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional clamps use long arms, then structural flexibility is improved, but clamping force deteriorates due to increased flex and reduced leverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the critical parameter from arm length to axle diameter. By making the axle diameter greater than the arm width (d > w), the design achieves both manufacturing flexibility and clamping reliability. This parameter inversion resolves the contradiction by finding a different dimensional relationship that satisfies both requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from considering only arm length (one dimension) to incorporating axle diameter as a critical dimension. This dimensional shift allows the design to achieve stability through lateral support (another dimension) rather than relying solely on arm length, thereby resolving the contradiction between flexibility and reliability.
3Reliability
If conventional clamps use complex knotting systems through holes, then rope securing capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex knot requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by providing a hook for the line to pass through, rather than requiring the line to pass through a hole and form a complex knot. The hook design with a smaller diameter opening allows the line to be secured by simply passing it through, eliminating the need for complex knotting while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the knotting requirement from the design, replacing it with a hook-based system. By removing the need for knots entirely and using a simple pass-through hook mechanism, the design achieves both secure rope attachment and ease of operation.
4Ease of operation
If conventional clamps use hooks for line attachment, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates because the knotted line can slide off the hook end
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric hook design where the opening diameter is intentionally made smaller than the line diameter. This asymmetric dimensional relationship prevents the line from sliding off while maintaining easy pass-through attachment. The line can easily go through the smaller opening but cannot retrieve itself, providing both ease of operation and reliable retention.
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 clamp effectively holds heavy weights by minimizing flex and providing secure lateral and forward movement arrest, while the multi-radius latching system ensures zero slippage and easy disengagement, and the two-hook end securely ties knots, maintaining grip under tension.
Implementation Method 1
a clamp that has relatively short arms that have an axle as a fulcrum. The short arms increase the clamping power in the jaw of the mouth. The diameter of the axle d (see FIG. 10) is greater than the width w of the arm (see FIG. 11) that rides on the axle, thereby giving said arm excellent lateral stability, and minimizing flexing.
Implementation Method 2
The teeth in the mouth of the clamp are unique in that they distort the material the maximum amount it can in the least number of square inches of mouth size. The teeth arrest the material from both forward movement as well as lateral movement.
Implementation Method 3
The arms are held together by a practically zero slippage multi-radius latching system that is held together by several small latches catching on the inside of each arm.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping and locking device that uses two main parts. The two parts are connected by an axle, which acts as a fulcrum. The assembled clamp has jaws that meet together on one end of the assembled parts. There is a multi-radius latching system on the inside of the handle arms located on the other side of the axle. The handle arms may be straight or curved. The ends of the handle arms can be straight, or have hooks, ring-holes, hand-grips, or an assortment of other useful end-of-handle designs.