Hand Tool Bifurcated Handle with Curved Toothed Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand tools with Y-shaped handles and pivoted engagement elements suffer from high stress on screws due to large gaps between the engagement elements and the bifurcated portions, leading to operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a handle with a bifurcated portion and a toothed ring, where the toothed ring is inserted into a hemi-circular space and rotated to align bores with screw holes, reducing the gap between the convex and concave faces and thereby minimizing stress on screws during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If large gaps are provided between the engagement element and the bifurcated portion, then the connection becomes easy to assemble, but the screws are subjected to extremely large stress during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by providing arched faces on the bifurcated portion that correspond to convex faces on the engagement element. This curved surface design allows the components to mate more closely, reducing gaps while maintaining ease of assembly. The arched geometry enables the engagement element to be inserted and connected without requiring excessive force, thereby reducing stress on the fastening screws.
2Ease of manufacture
If large gaps are provided between the engagement element and the bifurcated portion, then the engagement element can be easily connected, but the connection reliability deteriorates due to high stress on fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The arched faces and convex faces with curved surfaces enable better geometric compatibility between the engagement element and bifurcated portion. This curvature-based design reduces the gaps that would otherwise create leverage and stress on the screws, thereby improving connection reliability while preserving ease of assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If the engagement element is made with axles and the handle is expanded via slit, then the connection can be established, but the axles are subjected to extremely large stress due to large gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The curved arched faces on the bifurcated portion and corresponding convex faces on the engagement element work together to minimize gaps in the connection. This reduces the leverage and stress on the axles that would otherwise be subjected to extremely large forces during operation, improving the durability and reliability of the connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A handle extends about a first axis and includes a bifurcated portion. The bifurcated portion includes a concave face and two screw holes along a second axis. A toothed ring extends about a third axis and includes a convex face in compliance with the concave face and two bores along a fourth axis. The toothed ring is moved into a space in the concave face while keeping the third axis parallel to the second axis. The third axis is overlapped with the second axis and a center of the toothed ring is near or coincides with a middle point of a segment of the second axis in the bifurcated portion. The toothed ring is rotated about the first axis so that the fourth axis is overlapped with the second axis and the bores are aligned with the screw holes. Two screws are inserted in the screw holes and the bores.