Flashlight With Telescopic Body And Self-Latching Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand-held flashlights are limited in versatility as they are rigid and fixed in length, making them impractical for situations requiring variable directionality and temporary mounting, which occupies the user's hand and restricts other tasks.
Innovation Solution
A portable hand-held flashlight with a variable intermediate section that can be collapsed or expanded, featuring a movable clamp jaw body and hook for temporary mounting to structures, allowing for adjustable size and direction of illumination without needing to be held by hand, optionally incorporating magnets for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the flashlight has a rigid body with fixed length, then the structural stability is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flashlight body is divided into multiple telescopic sections that can extend and retract independently. Each section contains internal telescopic structures with guide rails and locking mechanisms, allowing the overall length to be adjusted while maintaining structural integrity of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The flashlight transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic telescopic structure. The intermediate section can be extended or collapsed to change the overall length, and the clamp mechanism can be activated or deactivated to change the mounting state, providing adaptability while maintaining stability when needed.
2Measurement precision
If the flashlight is held by hand, then the control precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism is designed to be self-latching, where the spring-loaded clamp jaw automatically engages with the mounting surface and locks into place without requiring continuous manual pressure. The hook structure also provides self-retaining capability when hooked onto edges or protrusions, allowing the flashlight to maintain its position without constant hand holding.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the flashlight has variable length configuration, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic sections are nested within each other, with each section containing the next smaller section inside it. This nested arrangement allows multiple length configurations to be achieved within a compact form factor, reducing the overall complexity compared to having separate adjustable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate section serves multiple functions: it provides telescopic length adjustment, contains the coiled electrical connection, and incorporates the clamp mechanism. The clamp jaw body can function both as a mounting clamp and as part of the telescopic structure, reducing the need for separate components.
4Manufacturing precision
If the electrical connection uses rigid wires, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A coiled flexible electrical cable is used instead of rigid wires to connect the battery compartment to the light source. This coiled cable can accommodate the telescopic movement and bending of the flashlight body while maintaining reliable electrical connection, enabling the flashlight to change configurations without compromising electrical connectivity.
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
Enables convenient and versatile illumination by allowing the flashlight to be adjusted in size and direction, freeing the user's hand for other tasks while providing reliable temporary mounting options, enhancing usability in various situations.
Implementation Method 1
A coiled wire may be disposed within the intermediate section and may electrically connect the battery to the light source
Implementation Method 2
The flashlight may also include magnets
Data Source
AI summary
A portable, hand-held flashlight that has a plurality of operative configurations. The flashlight includes a variable intermediate section that allows the flashlight to be in a collapsed configuration or one or more expanded configurations. The flashlight is configured to be repeatedly varied between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration(s), with the intermediate section configured to self-retain a shape and length when bent, extended, or collapsed by a user. The flashlight also includes a movable clamp jaw body and a hook that both allow the flashlight to be temporarily mounted to a suitable structure, so that the flashlight does not need to be held by hand while providing illumination. The flashlight may also include magnets.