Offset Placard Removal Tool for Tensioned Clamp Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing placard changing tools for semi-trucks face difficulty in removing placards due to significant force applied by tension members, making it hard to flip through or change placards, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A placard tool with a shaft and offset elongated member that can be easily inserted between clamps to relieve tension on placards, allowing for easy removal or insertion of placards without the need for prying with tools like screwdrivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If tension members apply significant force to hold placards in place, then placard stability is improved, but placard removal difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized tool as an intermediary device between the user and the tension member. This tool includes a shaft with an offset elongated member that can be inserted between the clamps to apply leverage and relieve tension, enabling easy placard removal without directly struggling against the tension force
Solution Approach 2:
The offset elongated member extends perpendicular to the shaft axis, creating a lever arm that operates in a different dimensional plane. This perpendicular offset provides mechanical advantage by converting rotational motion into linear force application, allowing the tool to overcome the tension member's holding force efficiently
2Ease of operation
If a screwdriver is used to pry the tension member tab, then placard removal is possible, but operational difficulty increases due to angle requirements and weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The tool incorporates a rotatable shaft that can be positioned at various angles, and an offset elongated member that can be oriented perpendicular to the shaft. This dynamic positioning capability allows the tool to adapt to different clamp configurations and weather conditions, eliminating the strict angle requirements that constrain screwdriver usage
Solution Approach 2:
The specialized tool is designed to work with various clamp types and configurations through its adjustable shaft and offset member. The tool can be inserted between clamps in different orientations and applies force through its lever arm regardless of the specific clamp geometry or environmental conditions, making it universally applicable
Data Source
AI summary
A placard tool including a shaft having a distal end spaced from a proximal end, the shaft including a longitudinal axis A. A handle is positioned at the proximal end of the shaft. An elongated member is positioned at the distal end of the shaft. The elongated member includes a first end and an opposite a second end. The elongated member is offset in a first direction B from the axis A of the shaft defining an unequal length of the elongated member with reference to the axis A on the second end in comparison to the first end. The elongated member is offset in a second direction C from the axis A of the shaft positioning the elongated member on one side with reference to the axis A.