Lighted Fish Stick Assembly With Anti-Loosening Rod Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fish sticks used for pulling wires or cables through tight spaces often experience connection issues due to twisting and maneuvering, leading to weakened connections and potential breakage, especially in poorly lit areas.
Innovation Solution
The fish stick design incorporates a light emitting component, such as a lighted tip with a curved lens, to provide illumination in dark areas, and includes a biasing element like a spring to increase the coefficient of friction between threadable rod segments, enhancing connection stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If threadable connectors are used to join rod segments, then the fish stick can be adjusted in length and assembled, but the connection becomes weak and prone to breaking due to twisting and maneuvering
Solution Approach 1:
A biasing element (spring) is pre-installed within the connector to continuously exert a compressive force on the threaded engagement between rod segments. This preliminary action of applying compressive force ensures that the threads remain tightly engaged throughout operation, preventing accidental loosening or breaking during twisting and maneuvering while maintaining the ability to adjust rod length.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the fish stick is used in poorly lit areas, then it can reach hard to access places, but visibility and maneuvering become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A light emitting component (such as an LED with lens) is introduced as an intermediary element attached to the fish stick. This component emits light that illuminates the work area, enabling the user to see and maneuver the rod in dark or hard-to-reach locations. The light emitting component acts as a mediator between the user and the dark environment, providing the necessary visibility without limiting the rod's ability to reach inaccessible areas.
3Strength
If rigid connectors are used to join rod segments, then the connection is strong, but the assembly becomes difficult to maneuver and twist
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates a biasing element (spring) that provides flexible, elastic properties to the otherwise rigid threaded connection. This allows the connector to flex and accommodate twisting and maneuvering motions while maintaining strong engagement through continuous compressive force. The spring element enables the rigid connector to behave in a more compliant manner during operation, improving ease of maneuvering without sacrificing connection strength.
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 integrated light source improves visibility during use, while the spring-biased threadable engagement reduces the likelihood of accidental disengagement, thereby enhancing the stability and reliability of the fish stick connection.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting source, such as an LED (light emitting diode)
Implementation Method 2
a curved lens that redirects light emitted by the light emitting source around the cylindrical bore and out the longitudinal end of the fish stick
Implementation Method 3
at least some of the rods are made of a phosphorescent material and include an indicia of the stiffness of the rod
Implementation Method 4
a biasing element, such as a spring, that exerts a compressive force on the threadable engagement between the rods
Implementation Method 5
the coefficient of friction to threadably disengage the rods is increased
Data Source
AI summary
A fish stick includes a light emitting component, such as a lighted tip, near the leading end of the fish stick. The lighted tip includes a curved lens that directs some light around an attachment piece at the end of the fish stick and generally in the forward direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fish stick. The fish stick may be made of a phosphorescent material and stored in a lit container with an LED and reflective surfaces. The fish stick may be made of multiple rods that are threadably engaged with each other and include a spring biasing element that increases the coefficient of friction between the threads of the rods. The fish stick may also be made of multiple rods that are threadably engaged with each other via collars.