Tool-Free Flagpole Holder With Pivot Pinching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flagpole and fishing rod holders require tools for installation and removal, making them cumbersome and prone to dislodgment due to wind drag and lateral forces.
Innovation Solution
A tool-free rod holder assembly that utilizes pivot joints and pinching elements, leveraging external forces to secure rods through friction, allowing for easy installation and removal without tools, and enhancing retention by adjusting clearance and using grip features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional securing mechanisms are used, then the flagpole is securely retained, but tool installation and removal becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The flagpole holder utilizes the flagpole itself as the actuating mechanism. When the flagpole is inserted, its movement automatically triggers the pinching action through the pivot joint mechanism, eliminating the need for external tools or manual adjustment. The system serves itself by converting the installation action into the securing action.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the lateral forces and wind drag that normally tend to dislodge the flagpole into beneficial pinching forces. As the flagpole experiences lateral movement, the pivot joint mechanism converts these forces into increased pinching pressure, making the holder more secure precisely when external forces are applied.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional securing mechanisms are used, then the flagpole is retained, but removal requires tools which may not be accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The removal process is automated through the self-service mechanism. When the flagpole is pulled outward, the same pivot joint mechanism that secures it during installation automatically releases the pinching action, allowing tool-free removal. The system adapts its behavior based on the direction of force applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder employs dynamic behavior where the pinching force is not static but responds to applied loads. The pivot joint allows the structure to dynamically adjust its configuration, transitioning between secured and released states based on the direction and magnitude of forces applied to the flagpole.
3Ease of operation
If the holder structure is simplified for easy operation, then tool-free installation is achieved, but retention mechanism may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism converts the harmful lateral forces and wind loads into beneficial pinching forces. As external forces attempt to move the flagpole, the geometry of the pivot joint converts these forces into increased normal force between the holder and flagpole, thereby increasing friction and securing the flagpole more firmly under load.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot joint mechanism utilizes curved surfaces and rotational geometry to transform linear lateral forces into radial pinching forces. The curved interaction surfaces between the holder components allow efficient force transformation, generating strong pinching action from simple insertion or lateral movement.
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
Simplifies installation and removal while improving retention by using external forces to pin the rod in place, ensuring secure holding during use without the need for tools.
Implementation Method 1
a pivot joint configured to permit the holder to rotate therearound
Implementation Method 2
a pinching element having a contact surface configured to contact the rod... uses naturally occurring forces on the rod to pinch and thereby secure the rod in the holder
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (100), including: a holder (102) configured to hold a rod, wherein the holder is configured to tilt about a pivot joint (120); and a pinching element (122) held in a fixed position relative to the holder and comprising a contact surface (124), in A distance (D1) between the contact surface and an interior surface (108) of the holder opposite the contact surface decreases as the holder tilts about the pivot joint toward a pinching configuration.