Manually actuatable hanger for suspending articles from a tubular carrier structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hangers for suspending articles from tubular or cylindrical carrier structures, such as baby strollers or shopping carts, tend to slip due to weight and momentum, especially when the carrier is not horizontally oriented or is jostled, posing a risk of damage to the article or users.
Innovation Solution
A manually actuatable hanger with jaws that can be expanded to receive the carrier structure, featuring a pivoting gate element and biased jaw portions with arcuate inner surfaces and resilient materials to securely grip the carrier, and a pivoting gate that can be opened to allow article suspension, providing adjustable security and safety across various orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a carabiner is used to suspend articles from a cylindrical handle, then the article can be held, but the carabiner tends to slip due to weight and momentum
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is divided into distinct functional segments: a jaw assembly with movable and stationary jaws for gripping the carrier structure, a gate element for securing the article, and a biasing mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function - the jaws provide secure gripping while the gate prevents accidental release, resolving the contradiction between slip resistance and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism (spring or elastic element) applies a preliminary counteracting force to prevent the jaws from slipping under the weight and momentum of suspended articles. This pre-applied opposing force ensures the jaws maintain their gripping position on the cylindrical carrier structure, directly addressing the slip resistance problem while requiring only simple manual actuation to engage or disengage.
2Reliability
If anti-slip materials such as foam rubber sleeve are added to a carabiner, then slippage is reduced, but the slip resistance is still limited when the carrier is not horizontally oriented or is jostled
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger employs a dynamic jaw mechanism where the movable jaw can adjust its position and pressure point on the carrier structure in response to orientation changes and external forces. Unlike static anti-slip materials, the biased jaw assembly actively adapts to maintain optimal gripping force regardless of the carrier's orientation or the direction of applied loads, providing superior orientation adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw assembly combines multiple materials with complementary properties: a rigid structure for mechanical strength, resilient material (such as rubber or elastomer) for friction and shock absorption, and a biasing mechanism (spring or elastic element) for maintaining constant gripping force. This composite construction provides both enhanced slip resistance and adaptability to various orientations and loading conditions.
3Reliability
If a hanger with expandable jaws is used to securely grip the carrier structure, then slip resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing mechanism (spring or elastic element) provides self-service by automatically maintaining gripping force without requiring active control or power sources. Once the jaws are engaged with the carrier structure, the biasing mechanism autonomously adjusts and maintains optimal gripping pressure, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, or complex control systems while ensuring reliable grip security.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's manual actuation and the gripping function. When the user opens or closes the gate, the biasing mechanism mediates the force transmission to the movable jaw, ensuring smooth engagement and disengagement while maintaining secure grip. This intermediary role simplifies the overall mechanism by providing a passive, reliable force source without requiring complex control systems.
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 hanger effectively resists slipping and securely suspends articles from cylindrical carrier structures of different sizes and orientations, ensuring safety and security by engaging the carrier structure firmly and allowing easy access for article hanging.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing element configured to exert a rotational force between the main body and the rocker element, and configured to resist expansion of a jaw opening
Implementation Method 2
The first arcuate inner surface comprises a first arc length, the second arcuate inner surface comprises a second arc length, and the second arc length is at least about twice the first arc length
Data Source
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AI summary
A manually actuatable hanger suitable for suspending articles from a tubular carrier structure includes jaws that may be actuated to expand a jaw opening to receive the carrier structure, with the jaws biased toward a closed position to engage the carrier structure. The hanger further includes a pivoting gate element that is operable by a user to selectively open a gate opening to provide access to a hook portion, whereby one or more articles may be hung from an interior surface of the hook portion. Gripping inserts include rib portions extending radially inward from a wider base portion and being configured to grip carrier structures of varying diameters. At least one locking mechanism may be provided to resist initial separation of ends of jaw bounding the jaw opening.