Flexible Thimble Gripper with Friction Surfaces for Needle Manipulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thimbles made from hard rigid materials hinder the ability to both push a needle into material and grip it for pulling through, due to low coefficient of friction on their lateral surfaces, limiting usability and comfort during sewing.
Innovation Solution
A flexible thimble gripper comprising a flexible elastomeric strip with an elastomeric dome and a rigid polymeric cap, featuring friction-enhancing surfaces for secure mounting on the thumb and finger, allowing needle insertion and retrieval without removing the thimble, formed through dual shot injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a thimble is formed from hard rigid material, then the needle can be pushed into material effectively, but the lateral surfaces exhibit low coefficient of friction making gripping difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The thimble is designed with different surface properties in different regions: the tip maintains hard rigid material for needle pushing, while the lateral surfaces incorporate high friction material for gripping. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between needle penetration capability and gripping ability.
Solution Approach 2:
The thimble combines hard rigid material and high friction material in a composite structure. The hard material provides structural strength for needle insertion, while the high friction material layer on the lateral surfaces provides enhanced gripping capability, simultaneously addressing both requirements.
2Strength
If a thimble is formed from hard rigid material, then structural strength is maintained, but the lateral surfaces have low coefficient of friction reducing control
Solution Approach 1:
The thimble applies different material properties to different regions: the core structure remains hard rigid for strength, while the lateral surfaces are coated with high friction material to improve needle control and reduce slippage during pulling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A composite construction is used where the hard rigid base material provides structural integrity, and an additional high friction material layer is applied to the lateral surfaces. This composite approach maintains structural strength while enhancing control reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the thimble uses friction-enhancing surfaces for gripping, then needle retrieval is improved, but the thimble structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire thimble complex, only the lateral surfaces are modified with friction-enhancing material while maintaining the simple overall thimble structure. This localized modification improves needle retrieval without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction-enhancing surface is implemented as a material coating or layer on the thimble body rather than a separate mechanical structure. This approach provides improved gripping functionality while keeping the structural design relatively simple and manufacturing feasible.
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 seamless needle insertion and retrieval without removing the thimble, enhancing user comfort and functionality by providing both friction for pushing and gripping surfaces for needle manipulation.
Implementation Method 1
the lateral surfaces of thimbles formed from hard material typically exhibit a rather low coefficient of friction
Implementation Method 2
A flexible thimble gripper comprises a flexible elastomeric strip terminating in an elastomeric dome
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible thimble gripper is provided. The thimble gripper includes a flexible elastomeric strip terminating in an elastomeric dome at one end with an elastomeric thimble formed at the opposite end. The dome has a friction enhancing surface formed on an outer surface. The thimble has a rigid polymeric cap terminating in a region having a slip resistant surface. The cap is cutaway on a surface contiguous with the friction enhancing surface of the dome, with a friction enhancing surface formed on the adjacent region of the elastomeric band. The dome and the thimble mount upon a thumb and a finger of a user's hand. The thimble gripper is used to push a needle into material pressed by the slip resistant surface and to draw the needle from the material gripped between the friction enhancing surfaces of the dome and the elastomeric band.