Pivoting Boom Coupler for Compact Tool Storage and Shipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power tools with elongated members, such as string trimmers and pole hedge trimmers, face challenges in compact storage and shipping due to their extended lengths, which hinder ease of use and increase storage and shipping costs.
Innovation Solution
A boom coupler system that includes pivotally coupled elongated members with a latch mechanism, allowing the tool to transition between an in-use configuration for operation and a stored configuration for compact storage, reducing the overall length and improving storage and shipping efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the elongated member is made long to extend the tool's reach, then the tool can reach elevated or distant work objects, but the tool becomes difficult to store and ship in a compact manner
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated member is divided into two separate sections that can be coupled together to form a long boom for reaching distant work objects, or separated and stored in a compact configuration. This segmentation allows the tool to achieve extended reach when needed while enabling compact storage when the extended length is not required.
2Length of moving object
If the elongated member is made long to extend the tool's reach, then the tool can reach elevated or distant work objects, but shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the elongated member into two separable sections, the tool can be shipped in a compact state with reduced dimensional volume, thereby lowering shipping costs. When needed, the sections are coupled together to form the full-length boom for extended reach operations.
3Reliability
If a latch mechanism is added to lock the elongated members in place, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is designed to be automatically engaged when the two sections of the elongated member are coupled together, providing reliable locking without requiring additional manual operations. The geometry of the coupling interface ensures proper alignment and automatic engagement of the latch, simplifying the user interaction while maintaining connection reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tool including a housing; a working head; and an elongated member extending between and coupling together the housing and the working head, wherein the elongated member includes: a first elongated member coupled to the housing, the first elongated member including one of a latch or engagement surface; and a second elongated member coupled to the working head, the second elongated member including the other of the latch or engagement surface, wherein the first and second elongated members are pivotally coupled together about a pivot axis, and wherein the latch is configured to selectively interface with the engagement surface to lock the first and second elongated members in an in-use configuration.