Lighted Fish Stick Assembly for Secure Threaded Rod Engagement
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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 rods require charging before use in dark environments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a lighted tip with an LED and curved lens for illumination, using phosphorescent materials for glow-in-the-dark functionality, and incorporating a spring biasing element to increase friction between rod segments, ensuring secure connections and immediate usability in dark environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional phosphorescent rods are used in dark environments, then illumination is provided, but the rods require charging before use which causes loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating rechargeable batteries and LED lights directly into the fish stick segments, allowing the illumination system to be recharged and reused multiple times without requiring recharging of phosphorescent material before each use. This eliminates the time loss associated with charging traditional phosphorescent rods.
2Ease of operation
If rod segments are twisted and maneuvered during pushing, then the fish stick can navigate through workspace, but the connectors may partially unscrew or break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by incorporating spring biasing elements within the connector assemblies that dynamically adjust to maintain optimal connection force between rod segments. The springs compensate for twisting and maneuvering forces by providing continuous radial or axial biasing forces, ensuring connectors remain securely engaged while allowing the fish stick to navigate through the workspace.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by including spring biasing elements that pre-compress or pre-tension the connector joints before external forces are applied during maneuvering. This prior cushioning through spring forces protects the threaded connections from sudden loads and prevents partial unscrewing or breakage during twisting operations.
3Reliability
If spring biasing elements are added to increase friction between rods, then connection security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the spring biasing elements directly into the existing connector assemblies, combining the spring mechanism with the threaded connection components. This integration approach increases connection security through enhanced friction while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by reusing and combining existing structural elements rather than adding entirely separate components.
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 lighted tip provides illumination in dark areas, the phosphorescent material allows for immediate use without charging, and the spring biasing element enhances connection security, reducing the likelihood of accidental disengagement and breakage.
Implementation Method 1
The curved lens redirects light emitted by the light emitting source around the cylindrical bore and out the longitudinal end of the fish stick
Implementation Method 2
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.