Cylindrical Flashlight Roll-Away Prevention Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cylindrical flashlights tend to roll when placed on an inclined surface, leading to an undesirable asymmetrical design when anti-roll features are added, which increases weight and risk of damage to other items in a backpack, necessitating the purchase of multiple flashlights for different uses.
Innovation Solution
A detachable L-shaped ring element with radially projecting elevations is mounted between the flashlight housing and lamp head, providing a form-fitting attachment that can be easily assembled or removed, with optional placement between the end cap and lamp head neck, and made from aluminum or plastic for reduced weight and cost, featuring a stop surface for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If anti-roll features are added to cylindrical flashlight, then roll prevention is improved, but weight increases and damage risk to other items increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-roll function is segmented from the main flashlight body and implemented as a separate detachable ring element. This allows the anti-roll feature to be added only when needed, without permanently increasing the flashlight's base weight. The ring can be attached to provide stability or removed to maintain minimal weight for carrying.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring element is designed to be detachably attached rather than permanently fixed, making the anti-roll feature dynamic rather than static. Users can attach the ring when stability is needed (e.g., during use on inclined surfaces) and remove it when minimal weight is preferred (e.g., during transport in backpacks), adapting the flashlight's properties to different usage conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If anti-roll features are added to cylindrical flashlight, then roll prevention is improved, but damage risk to other items in backpack increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the anti-roll feature into a separate detachable ring, the potentially harmful edges and corners are only present when the ring is attached. When removed, the flashlight maintains its smooth cylindrical shape that is safe for storing with other items in a backpack, eliminating the damage risk while preserving roll prevention capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable nature of the ring allows dynamic adaptation: the ring is attached when stability is needed during use, and removed when the flashlight is being transported in a backpack with other items, thereby dynamically eliminating the harmful effect of edges and corners only when necessary.
3Adaptability or versatility
If detachable ring element is used for anti-roll feature, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ring element is designed with universal applicability, featuring a form-fitting structure that can be attached to various cylindrical flashlight configurations. The same ring design can accommodate different flashlight diameters and component arrangements, providing adaptability without requiring multiple specialized ring variants, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
4Productivity
If ring element is made form-fitting between housing and lamp head, then assembly efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ring element incorporates a threaded connection that provides universal compatibility with standard flashlight components. This threaded interface establishes clear, standardized engagement features that simplify the form-fitting attachment process, allowing quick assembly without requiring extremely tight tolerances, thus maintaining high assembly efficiency while managing manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1e
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c~2e
AI summary
The invention relates to a cylindrical flashlight (22) and a ring element (1) for use as a roll-away prevention mechanism of a cylindrical flashlight (22). In order to prevent a cylindrical flashlight (22) from rolling away, the invention proposes a cylindrical flashlight (22) having a ring element (1) that is connected to the flashlight (22) and that has radially protruding elevations, which have surface sections (3) that are arranged at a distance from the surface of the cylindrical flashlight (22) in some areas in the assembled state. The invention further relates to a ring element (1) for use as a roll-away prevention mechanism of a cylindrical flashlight (22), which ring element can be detachably connected to the flashlight (22) and has radially protruding elevations, which have surface sections (3) that are arranged at a distance from the cylindrical surface of the flashlight (22) in the assembled state.