Magnetic Cleco Pliers for One-Handed Fastener Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cleco pliers require both hands for operation, causing discomfort, inefficiency, and potential injury due to awkward hand and wrist positioning, and make it difficult to install and remove temporary fasteners like clecos.
Innovation Solution
Cleco pliers with magnetic receptacles and a catch assembly that allow one-handed operation, using magnets to secure and orient clecos, and a bearing assembly to reduce friction, enabling ergonomic and efficient installation and removal of clecos.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional cleco pliers are used with both hands for operation, then the temporary fasteners can be installed and removed, but user fatigue and injury risk increase due to awkward hand and wrist positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional two-handed mechanical operation with a one-handed magnetic field-based system. Magnets embedded in the handle automatically attract and hold the cleco fastener, eliminating the need for complex two-handed manipulation and reducing wrist strain while maintaining installation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic receptacle performs the function of both gripping and positioning the cleco automatically through magnetic attraction. The system serves itself by using the magnetic field to hold the fastener in place without requiring continuous manual intervention, thereby reducing user fatigue
2Ease of operation
If magnets are added to secure and orient clecos, then one-handed operation becomes possible, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of gripping, positioning, and orienting the cleco into a single magnetic receptacle system. The magnets are integrated directly into the handle structure, combining multiple functions into one unified component rather than separate mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic receptacle serves multiple functions simultaneously: it attracts the cleco fastener, holds it securely during operation, and orients it correctly through the magnetic field. This multi-functional design achieves one-handed operation without adding proportionally complex mechanisms
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 ergonomic design reduces user fatigue and injury risk, enhances installation efficiency, and allows precise alignment of workpieces for accurate metal fabrication tasks.
Implementation Method 1
one or more magnets received in at least one of the first receptacle and the second receptacle configured to secure the temporary fastener within the first receptacle and the second receptacle via a magnetic biasing force applied by the one or more magnets to the temporary fastener
Implementation Method 2
the second magnet configured to apply an orienting force to the temporary fastener when the temporary fastener is jointly received in the first receptacle and the second receptacle, urging the temporary fastener to pivot about a terminal end thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A pair of cleco pliers includes a first handle defining a first receptacle at a distal end thereof. In addition, the pair of cleco pliers includes a second handle pivotably coupled to the first handle and defining a second receptacle at a distal end of the second handle, and wherein the first receptacle and the second receptacle are configured to jointly receive a temporary fastener. The pair of cleco pliers further includes one or more magnets received in at least one of the first receptacle and the second receptacle configured to secure the temporary fastener within the first receptacle and the second receptacle via a magnetic biasing force applied by the one or more magnets to the temporary fastener.