Foldable Safety Handrail Cam Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional foldable safety handrail assemblies are inconvenient to use due to the need for tools to clamp or loosen components and suffer from easy unlocking and potential elastic fatigue, leading to operational difficulties and reduced lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A foldable safety handrail assembly featuring a mounting bracket, a fixing sleeve, a release sleeve with a groove, a rail with pivot tubes and locking grooves, a locking tube with a limit slot, a locking member, a control member with an elastic member and push/pull knobs for easy operation, allowing users to unlock and fold the rail without tools and enhancing durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a fastening bolt and fastening nut are used to clamp the pivot tube, then the pivot tube can be securely locked onto the locking tube, but the user must use a hand tool to screw or unscrew the fastening bolt, causing inconvenience and increasing operation time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping forceVSAvoidoperation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the screw-threaded fastening system with a cam mechanism. The cam member rotates about its axis and uses its cam surface to push the pressing plate against the pivot tube, eliminating the need for threaded fasteners and hand tools while maintaining secure clamping force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dynamic cam mechanism that can be quickly adjusted and locked into position. The cam member can rotate to different positions to provide adjustable clamping force, and once positioned, it locks automatically without requiring threading operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a locking knob on an elastic plate is pressed to detach the locking knob from the first locking hole, then the pivot tube can be unlocked from the locking tube, but the user cannot unlock easily and quickly, causing inconvenience and increasing operation time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunlocking capabilityVSAvoidunlocking speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the elastic plate with a cam-based releasing mechanism. The cam member, when rotated, uses its cam surface to automatically push the pressing plate away from the pivot tube, providing a more reliable and faster unlocking action compared to manually pressing a locking knob.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The cam mechanism performs the unlocking action automatically through rotation. The cam surface inherently provides the pushing force to release the pressing plate, eliminating the need for the user to manually press the locking knob and allowing for quicker, more intuitive operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If an elastic plate is used to mount the locking knob, then the locking mechanism can be simplified, but the elastic plate will easily produce elastic fatigue during long-term utilization, becoming inoperative and reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking mechanism simplicityVSAvoidlong-term durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the elastic plate with a rigid cam member that rotates about an axis. This substitution eliminates the elastic fatigue problem inherent in continuously deformed elastic materials while maintaining the simplicity of the locking mechanism through the cam's geometric design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The cam mechanism uses a durable, non-elastic component that does not degrade over time like elastic materials. The cam member can be replaced if worn, but its design inherently resists fatigue, providing long-term reliability without the need for continuous elastic deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 easy and quick folding of the rail with reduced user effort and increased component strength and longevity, as the control member is less prone to deformation or breakage during long-term use.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member mounted in the locking tube and biased between the control member and the release sleeve to push the locking member toward the first locking groove or the second locking groove of the pivot tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8661740B2Foldable safety handrail assembly

Publication Date: 2014.03.04 YUH INST CO LTD

AI summary

A foldable safety handrail assembly includes a mounting bracket, a fixing sleeve mounted on the mounting bracket, a release sleeve mounted on the mounting bracket and having a release groove, a rail having a pivot tube which has a first locking groove and a second locking groove, a locking tube extending through the fixing sleeve, the pivot tube and the release sleeve and having a limit slot, a locking member mounted in the limit slot and detachably locked in the first locking groove or the second locking groove, a control member mounted in the locking tube to move the locking member, and a push knob mounted on and pushing the control member. Thus, the user only needs to push the push knob to unlock and fold the rail so that the rail can be unlocked and folded easily and quickly.