Emergency Pendant Suspension Assembly with Tension Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency necklaces or pendants with cord systems are prone to being lost or uncomfortable, as the cord can break or cause injury when the pendant is pulled with force, and the existing designs do not effectively manage cable tension or length adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A suspension assembly with dual cables and a tension sensor that allows for easy activation by pulling the cable, featuring a sliding mechanism with orthogonal faces to absorb excessive traction and prevent injury, and a system to adjust the cable length to prevent the pendant from falling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cord is made long to allow the pendant to go over the head, then the pendant can be worn more easily, but it can be lost (for example if the person falls forward)
Solution Approach 1:
The cord length is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the user to dynamically adapt the cord length to different situations. The housing can be positioned at different distances from the neckline, enabling the cord to be longer for easy wearing and shorter to prevent loss or injury
2Reliability
If the cord length is adjusted and fixed with a clip or tie, then the pendant cannot be lost, but the cord can break and the pendant can fall again
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical connection (cord directly attached to housing) is replaced with a telescopic adjustment mechanism inside the housing. The cord connects to an adjustable element that can move within the housing, providing a more robust connection that distributes stress and reduces the risk of cord breakage
3Ease of operation
If a button is used for activation, then the alarm can be triggered, but it requires significant force that may injure the person
Solution Approach 1:
The activation mechanism changes from a button requiring significant pressing force to a tension sensor that triggers at a low force threshold. The sensor detects when the cord tension exceeds a predetermined threshold (greater than weight but less than injurious force), enabling activation with minimal pulling force
4Device complexity
If the housing is fixed directly to the cable, then the structure is simple, but it cannot absorb excessive traction and may cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed connection is replaced with a dynamic telescopic adjustment mechanism. The adjustable element can move within the housing along the cord axis, allowing the housing to move relative to the cord under excessive tension and absorb the impact, preventing injury while maintaining structural integrity
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 ensures the pendant can be triggered easily by a person in difficulty without causing injury and prevents accidental loss by adjusting the cable length, providing a secure and comfortable wear.
Implementation Method 1
the actuating means comprise a tension sensor of the proximal end of the first cable and/or of the second cable
Implementation Method 2
a predetermined force less than a frictional force applied by the channels of the parts on the cables
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to an emergency pendant (1) comprising: - A housing (10) comprising a wireless communication module (11) controlled by actuation means (12); - A suspension assembly comprising a first cable (20a) having a proximal end (22a) and a second cable (20b) having a proximal end (22b), the housing (10) being attached to each of the proximal ends (22a, 22b) of the first and second cables (20a, 20b); characterized in that the actuation means (12) comprise a voltage sensor of the proximal end (22a, 22b) of the first cable (20a, 20b) and/or of the second cable (20b).