Foot-Actuated Hand Truck Clamping for Stable Article Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand trucks face issues with the shovel plate failing to smoothly shovel articles or the article not being stably pushed back against the frame, often requiring user assistance that can lead to injury or instability.
Innovation Solution
A hand truck design featuring a clamping mechanism with elastic restoring members and a step mechanism to control clamping arm units, allowing the user to stabilize the article using their foot, preventing manual intervention and ensuring stable transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the shovel plate is used to shovel the article, then the article can be loaded onto the hand truck, but the article cannot be stably pushed back against the frame
Solution Approach 1:
The loading process is divided into two distinct phases: shoveling phase (with shovel plate) and stabilizing phase (with clamping arms). The clamping mechanism segments the functions of loading and stabilizing, allowing each to be optimized independently for its specific purpose.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping arms are preliminarily positioned to automatically engage and clamp the article immediately after it is shoveled onto the frame. This preliminary clamping action prevents the article from sliding or falling back during the loading process, ensuring stability from the moment the article contacts the frame.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the user uses hands to stabilize the article, then the article can be controlled, but the user may suffer injuries from sharp structures or excessive weight
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping arms serve as an intermediary mechanical device between the user and the article. Instead of direct hand contact with potentially harmful articles, the automated clamping mechanism provides control and stabilization, eliminating the need for users to manually handle sharp or heavy objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping mechanism is self-activating through the step plate mechanism. When the user steps on the plate, it automatically triggers the clamping arms to engage the article, providing self-service stabilization without requiring continuous manual intervention or exposure to harmful factors.
3Force
If manual assistance is used to load heavy articles, then the loading process can be completed, but the overall application of force is reduced and injuries may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism performs the force-intensive stabilizing task automatically through the step-activated system. The mechanical advantage provided by the lever arms and pivot points allows the user's foot force to be amplified into sufficient clamping force, eliminating the need for additional manual force application that could lead to injury.
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
The design enables safe and stable transport of articles by eliminating the need for manual stabilization, preventing injuries and ensuring the article remains securely clamped during movement.
Implementation Method 1
two elastic restoring members connected between the main frame unit and a corresponding one of the clamping arm units. The elastic restoring members constantly bias the clamping arm units toward the clamped position
Data Source
AI summary
A hand truck includes a main frame unit configured to carry an article, two spaced-apart clamping arm units pivotally disposed on a bottom end of the main frame unit, and two elastic restoring members connected between the main frame unit and one of the clamping arm units. The clamping arm units are driven to move relative to the main frame unit between a clamped position, in which the clamping arm units are moved close to each other for clamping therebetween the article carried by the main frame unit, and an open position, in which the clamping arm units are moved away from each other. A step mechanism is pivotally disposed on the main frame unit, and is configured to be stepped on and pressed down by a foot of a user to drive the clamping arm units to move toward the open position.