Connectable Drive Tool Arms for Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drive tool devices with solidly attached lever members are cumbersome, heavy, and difficult to operate, leading to increased weight, volume, and manufacturing costs, while also being inefficient for pivoting and grasping.

Innovation Solution

A drive tool device featuring a drive handle member with non-circular engaging barrels and a driving shank element with a non-circular cross section, allowing for selective engagement and reducing weight and volume, with features like retaining rings and spring-biased projections for secure anchoring and easy operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If two arms are solidly attached to form a rigid structure, then structural strength is improved, but weight increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tool is divided into two separate arm members (first arm member and second arm member) that can be selectively connected or disconnected. This segmentation allows the user to operate only the necessary portion of the tool, reducing effective weight and improving ease of operation while maintaining structural strength when arms are connected

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between the two arm members is made dynamic rather than static. The arms can be selectively connected to form a rigid structure when full strength is needed, or disconnected when reduced weight and improved maneuverability are desired, allowing the structural properties to change based on operational requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If two arms are solidly attached to form a rigid structure, then structural strength is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If two arms are solidly attached to form a rigid structure, then structural strength is improved, but volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidvolume

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The first arm member is designed to be receivable within the second arm member, creating a nested configuration when not in use. This nesting principle significantly reduces the volume occupied by the tool while maintaining the option to extend the arms to their full structural capacity when strength is required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Strength

If two arms are solidly attached to form a rigid structure, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection mechanism between the two arm members is designed to accommodate multiple connection configurations (connected, disconnected, nested). This multi-functionality allows the same basic structure to serve different operational requirements, reducing the need for multiple specialized tools and thereby reducing manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9278445B2Drive tool device having connectable arms

Publication Date: 2016.03.08 LI YI CHENG

AI summary

A drive tool device includes a drive handle member having three barrels attached to the end portions and the middle portion, the two end barrels each include a non-circular engaging opening communicating with the bore of the handle member, and the drive handle member include one or more non-circular engaging orifices formed in either of the barrels, and a driving shank element includes a non-circular cross section for engaging with the non-circular engaging orifices of the drive handle member and for allowing the drive handle member to be driven by the driving shank element selectively and for allowing the driving shank element to be driven by the drive handle member selectively.