Flexible Inflation Needle Preventing Breakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflation needles made of solid, rigid materials frequently break during the inflation process, leading to them becoming lodged inside inflatable objects and getting lost, causing damage.
Innovation Solution
An inflation needle design featuring a flexible portion, such as a flexible bellows, that connects the insertion end to the pump end, allowing for flexibility and preventing breakage by bending instead of fracturing under force, combined with rigid portions and a threaded connection for secure attachment to a pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the inflation needle is made of rigid material, then structural integrity is maintained, but the needle breaks during inflation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the elongated member from rigid to flexible, allowing it to bend and flex during insertion and inflation without breaking. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural integrity through flexibility rather than rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflation needle combines different material properties in its elongated member, using flexible materials that provide both the necessary structural integrity and the flexibility to prevent breakage during use. This composite approach allows the needle to withstand insertion forces while remaining flexible enough to avoid fracturing.
2Reliability
If the inflation needle is made of flexible material, then breakage is prevented, but structural integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the flexibility parameter of the elongated member to an optimal level that prevents breakage while maintaining sufficient structural integrity. The flexible portion is designed to bend without over-extending or collapsing, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflation needle features a localized flexible portion in the elongated member rather than making the entire needle flexible. This local quality approach allows the needle to maintain structural integrity in critical areas while providing flexibility only where needed to prevent breakage during insertion and inflation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the inflation needle is fully rigid, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the needle gets lost inside the inflatable object when it breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rigidity parameter of the elongated member to flexible, which prevents the needle from breaking and getting lost inside the inflatable object. While this may slightly increase manufacturing complexity compared to rigid needles, it eliminates the harmful effect of needle loss and damage to the inflatable object.
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 flexible design reduces the likelihood of the needle breaking during use, ensuring it can bend without fracturing and remain functional, while the rigid and threaded components maintain structural integrity and secure connections, respectively.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the elongated member includes a flexible portion
Data Source
AI summary
An inflation needle includes a first end for insertion into an inflatable object, a second end for connection to a pump and an elongated member having a conduit for air therethrough and connecting the first end and the second end, where at least a portion of the elongated member includes a flexible portion. The flexible portion may include a flexible bellows.