Faucet Hose Weight Assembly with Segmented Retainer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional weight assemblies for faucet hoses are difficult to assemble and disassemble, often leading to insecure fixation, hose deformation, and time-consuming processes due to fixed hole sizes, complex alignment requirements, and loose connections over time.
Innovation Solution
A weight assembly featuring a counterweight with a channel and retainer system, utilizing a resilient element and pressing member to easily fix and remove the hose, ensuring stable clamping force and preventing deformation, with the counterweight being quickly connected and disconnected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hole size is made small to securely fix the weight assembly on the hose, then the fixation security is improved, but the ease of moving the weight assembly along the hose deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The weight assembly is divided into two separable part pieces instead of being integrally formed. This segmentation allows the first part piece to be inserted onto the hose and the second part piece to be attached later, enabling easy movement along the hose while maintaining secure fixation through the retaining member engagement between the two part pieces.
2Ease of operation
If the hole size is made large to easily move the weight assembly along the hose, then the ease of moving the weight assembly is improved, but the fixation security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The weight assembly is divided into two separable part pieces instead of being integrally formed. This segmentation allows the first part piece to be inserted onto the hose and the second part piece to be attached later, enabling easy movement along the hose while maintaining secure fixation through the retaining member engagement between the two part pieces.
3Ease of manufacture
If the weight assembly is made as two part pieces connected by retaining member with screws, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the assembly time increases due to complex alignment and screwing process
Solution Approach 1:
The first part piece is pre-formed with a groove and the second part piece is pre-formed with a corresponding structure. The retaining member is designed to engage these pre-formed features without requiring complex alignment or multiple screwing operations. The groove in the first part piece guides the retaining member into place, and the second part piece's structure automatically aligns with it, eliminating the need for time-consuming alignment and repeated screwing.
4Device complexity
If the weight assembly is integrally made in oval shape with fixed hole, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the ease of assembly and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The weight assembly is divided into two separable part pieces instead of being integrally formed. This segmentation allows the first part piece to be inserted onto the hose and the second part piece to be attached later, enabling easy movement along the hose while maintaining secure fixation through the retaining member engagement between the two part pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight assembly transitions from a static, fixed structure to a dynamic, separable structure. The two part pieces can be easily separated and reattached, allowing the weight assembly to be moved to different positions on the hose or removed entirely when needed, providing operational flexibility while maintaining structural integrity during use.
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 weight assembly allows for easy hose fixation and removal, maintains a stable clamping force to prevent deformation, and simplifies the assembly process by using a resilient element to control the clamping force and facilitate quick connection and disconnection of the counterweight.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient element arranged between the counterweight and the pressing member to exert an elastic force on the pressing member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A weight assembly (1) for a faucet (2) contains: a counterweight (10) including a channel (11), the channel (11) having an elongated first opening (111) and a longitudinal height (h1), and the longitudinal height (h1) being larger than a diameter of a hose (3); the counterweight (10) also including a non-circular orifice (12), a first accommodating cavity (13), and a second accommodating cavity (14); a retainer (20) inserted into the second accommodating cavity (14), the non-circular orifice (12), and the first accommodating cavity (13) and including a notch (21) for defining a second opening (211) facing to the first opening (111); the notch (21) having an arc-shaped contacting fringe (212); a longitudinal height (h1) of the second opening (211) along the Z-axis direction being larger than the diameter of the hose (3); a pressing member (30) mounted on a top end of the retainer (20); a resilient element (40) defined between the first accommodating cavity (13) of the counterweight (10) and the pressing member (30). Thereby, the counterweight (10) is removed and replaced easily by pressing and releasing the pressing member (30).