Fastener Staging and Placement System for Gloved Utility Work
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility linemen face difficulties in manipulating small objects, such as ring type fasteners, while wearing thick gloves, as existing storage and retrieval systems are inadequate for organizing and dispensing specific sets of fasteners effectively from elevated workstations like aerial buckets.
Innovation Solution
A fastener staging and placement system comprising a staging member with a removable dowel and attachment means, and a placement member with gripping arms, designed to securely hold and position ordered sets of ring type fasteners for easy manipulation with gloved hands, allowing for efficient storage and placement on bolts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thick electrically insulated gloves are worn for safety, then protection is improved, but dexterity and ability to manipulate small objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a placement member with gripping arms as an intermediary tool between the gloved hand and the small fasteners. The gripping arms provide the necessary dexterity to manipulate small objects while the lineman continues to wear thick protective gloves, thus resolving the contradiction between electrical protection and manipulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The placement member is designed to be self-retaining through spring-loaded gripping arms that automatically engage with fasteners. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for precise manual manipulation, allowing gloved hands to operate more easily while maintaining electrical protection
2Quantity of substance
If traditional bag storage devices with pockets are used, then storage capacity is improved, but ease of retrieving and manipulating specific items deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into distinct compartments: a staging member with organized slots for different fastener types, and a placement member with specific gripping areas. This segmentation allows for easy identification and retrieval of specific fasteners while maintaining overall storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The staged fasteners on the staging member serve as an intermediary organization layer between the bulk storage bag and the placement member. This intermediate staging area presents fasteners in an ordered, easily accessible manner that simplifies retrieval and manipulation
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of fasteners are stored together, then versatility is improved, but ability to present ordered sets for manipulation with gloved hands deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The staging member is divided into multiple slots or compartments, each designated for specific types of fasteners. This segmentation allows versatile storage of different fastener types while simultaneously presenting them in ordered sets that are easy to manipulate with gloved hands
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the staging member are designed with specific local qualities - some slots may have different dimensions, orientations, or surface characteristics optimized for specific fastener types. This local differentiation enables versatile storage while maintaining ease of manipulation for each specific fastener type
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
Enables linemen to efficiently store and place ordered sets of ring type fasteners in desired locations, even with gloved hands, improving the ease and accuracy of repairs and assemblies on elevated workstations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the at least two clip legs is hingedly coupled to the stanchion receiving unit by at least one spring
Implementation Method 2
two or more gripping arms that are configured to flex and exert pressure on at least one fastener thereby securing an ordered set of fasteners
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener staging and placement system comprising a staging member capable of temporarily attaching to structures and storing a plurality of ring type fasteners, and a placement member with a means for gripping and removing one or more fasteners to and from the staging member. The staging member comprises a removable and substantially vertically oriented dowel, configured to present a series of ordered sets of fasteners to the placement member, and an attachment means that may be removably attached to various structures. The placement member comprises two or more gripping arms that are configured to flex and exert pressure on at least one fastener thereby securing an ordered set of fasteners.