Single-Piece Handle with Guide Tunnel for Pluggable Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional handles for pluggable and unpluggable devices are either prone to severing, lack locking and unlocking functionality, or are structurally complex and space-inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece handle with a guide tunnel and engaging portion that slides or rotates relative to a shaft on the device, allowing for secure locking and unlocking, and is designed to be space-efficient and less likely to rupture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If leashes are used to pull out pluggable devices, then they are cheap and simple, but they readily sever after long use or frequent pulls
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into multiple functional segments: a handle body for gripping, a guide tunnel for the shaft, and an engaging portion for locking. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle transitions from a static leash structure to a dynamic system where the handle body can slide along the shaft within the guide tunnel. This dynamic movement enables the engaging portion to lock and unlock, providing controlled connection and disconnection while distributing mechanical stress.
2Device complexity
If leashes are used, then they are simple, but they cannot be locked and unlocked between device and apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated handle structure: gripping function (handle body), guiding function (guide tunnel), and locking function (engaging portion). This merging achieves locking capability without requiring separate complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle serves multiple purposes: it provides a gripping surface for user operation, guides the shaft movement through the tunnel, and engages with the apparatus to provide locking. This multi-functionality is achieved within a simple single-piece structure.
3Reliability
If multi-piece handles are used, then they are capable of being locked and unlocked and seldom sever, but they are structurally intricate and take up much space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the handle body, guide tunnel, and engaging portion into a single integrated component. This consolidation maintains the locking and durability functions of multi-piece handles while eliminating their structural complexity and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is nested within the guide tunnel of the handle body, and the engaging portion is integrated into the handle structure. This nesting arrangement achieves compact space utilization while maintaining all necessary functions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multi-piece handles are used, then they provide locking functionality, but they are likely to malfunction because of their intricate structure
Solution Approach 1:
By combining all handle functions into a single-piece structure, the patent eliminates the interfaces and connections between multiple pieces that are potential failure points. The integrated structure reduces malfunction risk while maintaining locking functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A pluggable and unpluggable device and a handle for the same are provided. The pluggable and unpluggable device includes a carrier, a shaft disposed at the carrier, and a handle movably mounted on the shaft and adapted to engage with and pull out, from an apparatus, the pluggable and unpluggable device in an engaged state and a pulled-out state respectively, alternately and repeatedly. The handle includes a handle body, a guide tunnel disposed in the handle body, and an engaging portion disposed on the handle body. The handle body fits around the shaft by the guide tunnel to thereby slide or rotate relative to the shaft. The engaging portion engages with and escapes from the apparatus as the handle body slides relative to the shaft by the guide tunnel. Therefore, the handle is unlikely to sever, capable of being locked and unlocked, one-piece and thus structurally simple, and space-efficient.