Insert-Molded Soft Touch Grip for Pepper Spray Ergonomics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pepper spray devices typically have hard plastic bodies, making them uncomfortable and ergonomically challenging to grip.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an insert-molded soft touch grip on the pepper spray device, formed from a resilient viscoelastic material, provides a comfortable and ergonomic gripping surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the pepper spray device body is made of hard plastic, then the structural strength and durability are improved, but the gripping comfort and ergonomic suitability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines hard plastic for the structural body with a soft touch grip material (thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic polyurethane) for the gripping surface. This composite material approach allows the device to maintain structural strength while providing ergonomic comfort during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft touch grip is applied specifically to the outer surface areas that contact the user's hand during gripping, while the rest of the body maintains hard plastic construction. This localized application of different material properties optimizes both structural integrity and user comfort without compromising either aspect.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pepper spray device body is made of hard plastic, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the user comfort and ergonomic suitability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The soft touch grip is integrated with the hard plastic body through insert-molding, creating a unified component that combines two different materials in a single manufacturing process. This merging approach maintains manufacturing efficiency while achieving enhanced user comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses composite materials (hard plastic body with soft touch grip overlay) that can be manufactured together through insert-molding technology, allowing the combination of structural and comfort functions in a single manufacturing step without significantly increasing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a soft touch grip is added to the pepper spray device, then the gripping comfort and ergonomic suitability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The soft touch grip is merged with the body through insert-molding, creating an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. This integration reduces the number of discrete parts and assembly steps, minimizing the increase in device complexity while still providing enhanced gripping comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material construction is achieved through a single insert-molding process that combines hard plastic and soft touch grip materials in one manufacturing step, avoiding the need for separate manufacturing and assembly operations for each material layer.
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 soft touch grip enhances user comfort and ergonomic suitability, allowing for a secure and comfortable grip during operation.
Implementation Method 1
The integration of an insert-molded soft touch grip on the pepper spray device, formed from a resilient viscoelastic material, provides a comfortable and ergonomic gripping surface
Data Source
AI summary
Pepper spray devices with insert-molded soft touch grips. The soft touch grip is disposed on an outer surface of a body for operatively receiving a product cannister. The soft touch grip forms a soft gripping surface on an outer surface of the body that is sized and shaped to conform to the shape of a user's palm and fingers wrapped around the outer surface of the body. The soft touch grip includes a front grip pad and a rear grip pad, each disposed in a respective recess in the outer surface of the body. The front and rear grip pads are overmolded into the recesses. One or more undercuts in the body mechanically secure the soft touch grip to the body.