Measuring Device Sliding Retainer for Strip Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measuring devices face difficulties in easily and safely operating the measuring strip, as it can be tricky and painful to manually insert and remove the strip from its pocket, leading to user discomfort and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A measuring device with a slidable element along the curved outer side wall that retains and releases the measuring strip, allowing switching between use and storage states without direct hand engagement, featuring a snap-fit connection and guide means for easy attachment and removal, and resilient contact areas to prevent bi-directional movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the measuring strip is manually inserted and removed from the pocket by hand, then the strip can be positioned for use, but the operation becomes tricky and painful for the user
Solution Approach 1:
A release element is introduced as an intermediary between the user and the measuring strip. This element engages with the strip to hold it in the pocket during storage and can be actuated to release the strip for use, eliminating the need for direct manual manipulation of the strip itself and thereby preventing user discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring strip is designed with a free end that can be grasped and pulled to automatically disengage from the pocket through interaction with the release element. The strip essentially serves itself by being pulled out through simple user action on its free end, rather than requiring tricky manual insertion and removal operations
2Productivity
If the measuring strip is held in a pocket by hand, then the strip can be retained, but the operation becomes time consuming and tricky
Solution Approach 1:
The release element acts as a mediator that automates the strip deployment process. When actuated, it automatically releases the measuring strip from the pocket, eliminating the need for users to perform tricky manual manipulation and significantly reducing the time required for deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The release element is pre-configured to engage with the measuring strip and hold it in the ready position within the pocket. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the release element is actuated, the strip is immediately available for deployment without requiring additional manipulation steps
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
Facilitates easy and safe operation of the measuring strip, reducing user effort and discomfort by allowing state changes with the slidable element, ensuring secure storage and easy replacement of the strip.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the contact areas is resiliently arranged so as to project into a recess of the housing in a default state, and lie substantially in the plane of the measuring strip in a temporary state
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~1d
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a measuring device (10) comprising: a housing (12) provided with an opening (22); a measuring tape (20) storable in a spiral configuration within the housing, the measuring tape being extractable from the housing and returnable into the housing through the opening; and a measuring strip (26) having one end (28) at which the measuring strip is secured to the housing, the measuring strip being adapted to extend from the housing in a direction substantially opposite that of an extracted portion (20a) of the measuring tape and substantially in alignment therewith in a use state of the measuring strip, and extend along an at least partly curved outer side wall (16) of the housing in a storage state of the measuring strip. The measuring device further comprises an element (32) moveable along the at least partly curved outer side wall of the housing and adapted to retain, at the position of the element along the at least partly curved outer side wall, the measuring strip against the housing, such that when the element is moved away from the secured end of the measuring strip, the measuring strip is brought into the storage state, and when the element is moved towards the secured end of the measuring strip, the measuring strip is allowed to assume the extension of the use state.