Motorized Reaching Tool With Articulating Grapnel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current reacher tools require full arm and hand function to operate, limiting their effectiveness for individuals with severe physical impairments who cannot grip or exert sufficient hand strength.
Innovation Solution
A motorized reaching and grasping assist device with an articulating grapnel and wrist support, allowing control without manual trigger operation, featuring a reversible servo motor and extendable cylinder for adjustable reach and grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual trigger operation is used in traditional reacher tools, then the device structure remains simple, but it requires full arm and hand function to operate, limiting effectiveness for individuals with severe physical impairments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical trigger operation system with an electric motorized gripping mechanism. The motorized gripper can be controlled via various interfaces (switches, sensors, neural signals) that do not require manual hand gripping, thereby enabling individuals with severe physical impairments to operate the device while accepting increased device complexity through motorization.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates sensors and control systems that enable it to autonomously detect and grasp objects without requiring continuous manual intervention. The motorized gripper can automatically adjust its gripping force and position based on sensor feedback, providing self-service functionality that reduces the operational burden on users with limited hand function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a motorized mechanism is introduced to enable operation by individuals with severe physical impairments, then accessibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized reaching device is designed with multi-functionality to serve diverse user needs and applications. The system can accommodate different control interfaces (manual switches, eye-tracking, brain-computer interfaces), adapt to various user physical capabilities, and perform multiple tasks (reaching, grasping, manipulating objects), thereby enhancing adaptability while managing complexity through standardized modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamically adjustable parameters including variable gripping force, adjustable reach distance, and adaptive gripper positioning. The motorized system can dynamically respond to different objects and user requirements in real-time, providing versatility across different scenarios while using controlled complexity through programmable motion control.
3Length of stationary object
If an extendable arm with articulating grapnel is used to reach distant objects, then the reaching capability is extended, but the device becomes more complex and harder to control
Solution Approach 1:
The extendable arm is divided into multiple articulated segments that can be independently controlled. Each segment can be positioned and oriented separately through motorized joints, allowing the long-reach configuration to be broken down into manageable motion steps. This segmentation reduces control difficulty by enabling sequential positioning of each arm section while maintaining extended reaching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates sensors and feedback systems that provide real-time information about the arm's position, the gripper's status, and the environment. This feedback enables precise control of the extendable arm by allowing the control system to automatically adjust segment positions and gripping force based on sensor data, thereby reducing control difficulty despite the extended reach and articulated structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A reaching and grabbing assist device is provided having a reaching extension for aid in reaching out of distance objects. The distal terminus of the extension has an articulating grapnel that may be angularly positioned about the lateral centerline of the shaft. A support strip on the user's wrist allows total control without the risk of the device falling out of one's grasp or reach. Made of a hard outer casing, the shaft may allow internal rigging to connect the articulating grapnel to controls at the handle. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.