Hand Tool Sleeve with Annular Grooves for 360-Degree Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand tools are not conveniently designed to allow 360-degree rotation, making it difficult for users to efficiently tighten or loosen objects.
Innovation Solution
A hand tool design featuring a shank with annular grooves, a sleeve, a control member, a pressing member, a resilient member, and an end piece, allowing the sleeve to rotate relative to the shank only when a force is applied, enabling 360-degree rotation by moving the sleeve relative to the shank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hand tool uses a conventional T-shaped design with a fixed shank, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the user cannot rotate the tool 360 degrees for convenient operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by enabling the sleeve to transition between fixed and movable states relative to the shank. When force is applied to the pressing member, the sleeve moves along the shank, allowing 360-degree rotation. When force is released, the resilient member returns the sleeve to its initial position, fixing it relative to the shank. This dynamic state change enables convenient rotation operation while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sleeve is always fixed relative to the shank, then the tool is stable during operation, but the user cannot rotate the tool to access different directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the sleeve to be fixed or movable relative to the shank based on operational needs. The pressing member enables the user to dynamically switch between these states: pressing moves the sleeve along the shank for rotation, while releasing fixes the sleeve for stable operation. This dynamic control provides both rotation capability and operational stability as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member provides feedback by automatically returning the sleeve to its initial fixed position when the pressing member is released. This feedback mechanism ensures that the sleeve remains stable during operation while allowing intentional movement only when force is applied, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If the sleeve can move freely relative to the shank, then the user can rotate the tool easily, but the tool becomes unstable and imprecise during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by controlling the sleeve's movement through a specific mechanism: the sleeve moves only when force is applied to the pressing member, and returns to a fixed position when force is released. This dynamic control allows easy rotation during operation while ensuring precision and stability when the sleeve is fixed, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and operational precision.
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 360-degree rotation of the hand tool, allowing users to quickly tighten or loosen objects without direct contact with the shank, enhancing user convenience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member (50) located in the chamber (22) of the sleeve (20)
Data Source
AI summary
A hand tool includes a shank, a sleeve, a control member, a pressing member, an end piece and a resilient member. The shank has multiple annular grooves. The control member and the resilient member are located in the chamber of the sleeve and the end piece closes the sleeve. The shank extends through the control member and the end piece. When the pressing member is not applied by a force, the sleeve can only rotate relative to the shank and cannot move relative to the shank. When the sleeve is applied by a force, the sleeve can move relative to the shank.