Lighted Fish Stick Tip With Spring-Biased Threaded Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fish sticks used for routing cables in poorly lit areas often experience connection issues due to twisting and maneuvering, leading to partial unscrewing and potential breakage of connectors, and traditional phosphorescent fish sticks require charging before use in dark environments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a lighted tip with an LED and phosphorescent material, and using a spring biasing element to increase the coefficient of friction between rod segments, ensuring secure connections and immediate illumination in dark environments without charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional phosphorescent material is used in fish sticks, then illumination is provided in dark environments, but the fish sticks require charging before use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical/phosphorescent illumination system with an electrical LED lighting system. The LED is powered by a battery or power source integrated into the fish stick, eliminating the need for phosphorescent charging while providing immediate illumination when powered on.
Solution Approach 2:
The fish stick incorporates its own power source (battery) and lighting system, making it self-sufficient for illumination without requiring external charging infrastructure or pre-charging preparation.
2Ease of operation
If rod segments are threadably engaged together for easy assembly, then the fish stick can be adjusted in length, but twisting and maneuvering can cause partial unscrewing and connection failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a spring biasing element that applies continuous compressive force to the threadable engagement between rod segments before any twisting or maneuvering occurs. This pre-applied compressive force creates initial friction that resists unscrewing during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring biasing element dynamically changes the normal force parameter at the thread interface, increasing the coefficient of friction through continuous compressive loading. This parameter change ensures that the friction force remains sufficient to prevent unscrewing even during twisting maneuvers.
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 provides secure and illuminated fish sticks for use in poorly lit areas, preventing accidental disengagement and allowing immediate use without pre-charging, enhancing usability and durability.
Implementation Method 1
At least some of the rods include a biasing element, such as a spring, that exerts a compressive force on the threadable engagement between the rods. As a result, the coefficient of friction to threadably disengage the rods is increased
Implementation Method 2
The lighted tip also includes a curved lens that redirects light emitted by the light emitting source around the cylindrical bore and out the longitudinal end of the fish stick
Implementation Method 3
at least some of the rods are made of a phosphorescent material and include an indicia of the stiffness of the rod
Data Source
AI summary
A fish stick includes a light emitting component, such as a lighted tip, near the leading end of the fish stick. The lighted tip includes a curved lens that directs some light around an attachment piece at the end of the fish stick and generally in the forward direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fish stick. The fish stick may be made of a phosphorescent material and stored in a lit container with an LED and reflective surfaces. The fish stick may be made of multiple rods that are threadably engaged with each other and include a spring biasing element that increases the coefficient of friction between the threads of the rods. The fish stick may also be made of multiple rods that are threadably engaged with each other via collars.