Ergonomic gripping mechanisms of a handheld air movement apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld air movement apparatuses, such as leaf blowers and vacuums, often require users to maintain an unnatural and unbalanced grip position due to fixed handles, leading to discomfort and inefficiency in directing the nozzle towards targets.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of ergonomic gripping mechanisms with directional height adjustment, allowing the nozzle to be positioned closer to the target through a pivotable handle connection that adjusts in height, providing a more natural grip and improved weight distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed handle is used in handheld air movement apparatus, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the user must maintain an unnatural and unbalanced grip position leading to discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed with pivotable connections at multiple joints (handle-to-shaft connection and handle-to-grip connection) that allow dynamic adjustment of the handle angle and orientation. This enables the handle to adapt to different operating positions and target locations, providing a natural grip position for the user while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of pivot mechanisms rather than complex adjustable systems
2Productivity
If the handle is made pivotable to allow directional height adjustment, then the nozzle can be positioned closer to the target improving operational efficiency, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly is segmented into multiple independent pivotable joints: the connection between handle and shaft, and the connection between handle and grip. This segmentation allows each joint to independently adjust to optimal positions for different operating conditions, enabling the nozzle to be positioned closer to various target heights and locations. The segmentation transforms a single complex adjustable mechanism into multiple simple pivot connections, improving productivity while controlling complexity
3Productivity
If directional height adjustment is incorporated to position the nozzle nearer its target, then airflow or suction force is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable handle connections enable dynamic repositioning of the nozzle relative to the target, allowing optimal positioning for maximum airflow or suction force. The dynamic adjustment capability lets users adapt the nozzle position to different target distances and heights without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, achieving improved productivity through simple rotational degrees of freedom
Data Source
AI summary
Ergonomic gripping mechanisms of handheld air movement apparatuses are provided. A handheld air movement apparatus may include a handle portion and a tool portion. The handle portion may include a grip, a trigger, and a handle pivot. The grip may have first and second ends. The trigger may be positioned toward the first end of the grip and the handle pivot may be positioned toward the second end of the grip. The tool portion may include a housing, a nozzle coupled to the housing, and a handle connection base. The tool portion may provide air movement into and/or out of the nozzle in response to a signal received from the trigger of the handle portion. The handle connection base of the tool portion may be pivotally coupled to the handle portion at the handle pivot to provide directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion.