Foldable String Trimmer Hinge for Cable-Protected Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
String trimmers with single integral poles are unwieldy and difficult to transport and store, and the electrical cable running through the pole is prone to damage during folding and unfolding.
Innovation Solution
A string trimmer with a rotatable hinge and hub design that allows the tool to be folded, protecting the electrical cable and featuring a latch for secure locking and a guard that ensures safe folding and storage, preventing accidental activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single integral pole is used in the string trimmer, then the structure is simplest and cheapest to manufacture, but the tool becomes unwieldy and difficult to transport and store
Solution Approach 1:
The pole is divided into two separate sections that can be joined together. The first pole section contains the cutting head and motor, while the second pole section contains the handle and battery housing. These sections can be assembled and disassembled by the user, making the tool easier to transport and store while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If the pole is made foldable with a hinge, then transport and storage become easier, but the electrical cable running through the pole becomes prone to damage from repeated folding
Solution Approach 1:
A hub is introduced as an intermediary component at the hinge joint. The electrical cable is routed through the hub, which provides a protective pathway for the cable during folding and unfolding operations. This mediator prevents the cable from being pinched or damaged by the moving pole sections while still allowing the hinge to function.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical cable is nested within the hub structure at the hinge. The hub contains an opening that allows the cable to pass through its interior space, effectively nesting the cable within a protective enclosure during the folding motion, preventing external damage.
3Reliability
If a latch mechanism is added to lock the hinge in straight configuration, then the pole remains secure during use, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the hinge position. When the pole sections are in the straight configuration during use, the latch automatically locks into place. When the hinge is folded for storage, the latch automatically releases. This self-service mechanism provides reliable locking without requiring additional controls or complex operation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to an outdoor device, preferably a string trimmer, having a hinged pole for folding the string trimmer. The hinge has an easy to use lock that allows for repeated folding of the trimmer for easy transport and storage. The string trimmer has a battery at a rear end of the pole near the handle, and a motor at a front end on the cutting head. An electrical cable is run from the battery to the motor to provide power to the motor. The hinge provides a protective sheath around the cable to protect it from damage when the string trimmer is folded and the cable might otherwise be exposed. Additionally, the string trimmer includes a guard around the cutting head that contacts a battery housing to secure the string trimmer in a folded position.