Hinged Shield Assemblies with Ball-and-Socket Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Contemporary hinged shield assemblies for needles often require manual intervention to maintain the shield in the correct position due to the tendency of living hinges to bias towards the needle-protected position, making the recapping and disposal process cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A hinged shield assembly with a ball-and-socket hinge mechanism that allows the shield to be securely locked in place around the needle, eliminating the need for manual holding, using a reversible lock and hooks to ensure the shield remains in the protected position without manual assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a living hinge is used to connect the shield to the needle hub, then the shield can pivot to cover the needle, but the shield cannot remain at the desired position and tends to bias toward the needle-protected position
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism transitions from a static living hinge to a dynamic ball-and-socket joint that allows the shield to be positioned at various angles and locked in place. The ball-and-socket connection enables rotational movement while the locking mechanism maintains the desired position, resolving the contradiction between operability and positional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield assembly becomes self-sustaining through the locking mechanism that holds the shield at the desired position without requiring continuous manual support. The spring-loaded plunger and cam surface work together to automatically maintain the shield position once set, eliminating the need for constant user intervention.
2Reliability
If manual holding of the shield is required to prevent it from biasing toward the needle, then needle protection is achieved, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and requires continuous user attention
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism with spring-loaded plunger and cam surface allows the shield to automatically maintain its position without continuous manual holding. Once the shield is positioned, the user simply activates the locking mechanism, and the system sustains the protective position independently, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's initial positioning action and the sustained shield position. The spring-loaded plunger engages with the cam surface to create a mechanical intermediary system that maintains the shield position without requiring continuous user intervention, thereby reducing procedure complexity while ensuring reliable needle protection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a retention mechanism is added to hold the cap at a fixed position, then the shield position is stabilized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the ball-and-socket joint for positioning, the spring-loaded plunger for locking, and the cam surface for engagement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, achieving position stability without excessive overall complexity. The modular nature of the segmented design makes the system manageable and manufacturable.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the shield assemblies include a shield that is pivotably secured to a needle hub. A ball-and-socket hinge secures the shield and the hub to one another. The assembly includes a reversible shield lock to hold the shield in the needle-protected position.