Down-Pressed Clamp Base for Racket Stringers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional racket stringer clamp bases are ergonomically challenging, labor-intensive, and prone to over- or under-tightening, leading to low efficiency and risk of hand injury during the stringing process.
Innovation Solution
A down-pressed clamp base with a main body, transmission member, leverage mechanism, fastening mechanism, and string holding mechanism, allowing for ergonomic operation by pressing down the lever to fix and release the clamp base on the rail without rotational stress, using a linkage system to ensure consistent fastening force without over- or under-tightening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rotary lever is used to fasten the clamp base on the rail, then the clamp base can be fixed and released, but the operation is labor-intensive and ergonomically challenging causing hand injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional rotary lever operation into a down-pressing motion. Instead of rotating the lever clockwise or counterclockwise, the user simply presses the lever downward to fasten and upward to release, reversing the operational paradigm to achieve ergonomic benefits while maintaining functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the rotary mechanical system with a linear pressing mechanism combined with a linkage system. The down-pressing motion is converted through linkages into the necessary clamping action, substituting the rotational mechanical system with a more ergonomic linear actuation system
2Reliability
If excessive force is applied to the rotary lever to fasten the clamp base, then the clamp base is securely fixed, but the fastening mechanism is over-tightened requiring greater force and time to untighten
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a spring-loaded mechanism that provides automatic feedback control. The spring maintains consistent pressure on the rail, and when the lever is pressed down, it engages a locking mechanism that prevents over-tightening. The system self-regulates the fastening force, ensuring reliable attachment without requiring the user to apply excessive force
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fastening mechanism from a force-dependent rotary system to a position-dependent linkage system. The fastening force is determined by the engagement position of the linkage components rather than the magnitude of applied force, transforming the control parameter from force to position to eliminate over-tightening issues
3Ease of operation
If the clamp base is not yet fixed on the rail when releasing the clamp member, then the clamp member can be released, but the operator is easily to mis-operate and change the position of the clamp base
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by automatically engaging the fastening mechanism before the clamp member is fully released. When the lever is pressed down, the linkage system pre-positions and secures the clamp base to the rail, ensuring the base cannot move during the subsequent clamp member release operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fastening and clamping functions into separate mechanisms. The down-pressing lever controls the fastening mechanism that secures the base to the rail, while the clamp member independently holds the string. This segmentation ensures that clamping operations do not affect base position stability
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 design provides a labor-saving, ergonomic, and efficient method to secure the racket string, reducing the risk of hand injury and maintaining consistent tension, allowing for easier and faster stringing with reduced operator fatigue.
Implementation Method 1
a leverage mechanism including a lever and a link, one end of the lever being a pivoted end pivotally connected with the main body, the other end of the lever being a levering section
Implementation Method 2
when the levering section of the lever is rotated downward, the link being driven, whereby the free end of the link drives the transmission member to displace toward the space
Data Source
AI summary
A down-pressed clamp base includes: a main body having a space and a passage in communication with the space via a connection perforation; a transmission member fitted in the connection perforation; a leverage mechanism including a lever and a link, the link being pivotally connected with the lever and positioned in the passage, a free end of the link being directed to the transmission member; a fastening mechanism disposed in the space; and a string holding mechanism disposed on the main body for holding a racket string. When pressing down the leverage mechanism, the clamp base is fixed on the racket stringer in an operation mode meeting ergonomics. When the leverage mechanism is pressed down, the action forces of the lever, the link and the transmission member fall on the same straight line, whereby the clamp base is fixed on the racket stringer by a fixed fastening force.