Pliers With Bridge-Like Overlap For High Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting and crimping pliers face challenges in achieving high gripping force with stable and efficient manufacturing, as the overlapping areas are small and complex to produce, leading to high production costs and limited stability.

Innovation Solution

The pliers design features a bridge-like overlap of one pliers leg through the other, with a separate overlapping part that can be connected via screws or rivets, and includes a spring for preload and low-friction formations like grooves and rolling bodies, allowing for high stability and reduced open movement area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the pliers legs are designed with overlapping areas for mutual anchoring, then the stability and gripping force are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pliers leg is segmented into a first pliers leg and a second pliers leg that are separately manufacturable. The second pliers leg includes an overlapping part that can be produced as a distinct component, allowing each part to be manufactured independently with standard processes rather than requiring complex integrated manufacturing of the entire assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The overlapping part of the second pliers leg is designed to overlap and nest with the first pliers leg in a bridge-like configuration. This nesting arrangement provides mutual anchoring and stability while maintaining simple, separate manufacturing processes for each component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the overlapping area of the pliers legs is increased to improve stability, then the anchoring is improved, but the device complexity and production effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pliers assembly is segmented into distinct components (first pliers leg, second pliers leg with overlapping part) that can be manufactured separately using standard processes, avoiding the need for complex integrated manufacturing while achieving the required overlap area for stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The overlapping part is designed as a replicated or mirrored structure that can be produced using the same manufacturing processes as the main pliers legs, simplifying production by reusing existing manufacturing capabilities rather than requiring new complex processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Stability of the object's composition

If the pliers legs are designed with a bridge-like overlap, then the stability is improved and manufacturing is simplified, but the area for open relative movement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidmovement area
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pliers leg is segmented into a first pliers leg and a second pliers leg with an overlapping part, allowing the structure to achieve stability through controlled overlap while maintaining sufficient space for the necessary open relative movement in the gripping area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The overlap is arranged in a bridge-like configuration that utilizes spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions, providing stability through the overlapping structure while preserving the required movement area in the gripping region by optimizing the spatial distribution of the overlap.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This design achieves high stability and ease of assembly while reducing production complexity and costs, enabling efficient application of force with a low-friction interaction and positive locking mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

The pliers legs are preloaded into the open position of the pliers by means of a spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

rolling bodies accommodated in the formations and designed to roll off on both formations can be provided. Roughly equivalent to a ball bearing. In this way, a very low-friction interaction of the pliers arms can be achieved

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Ball Bearing

Data Source

PatentEP1879721B1Pliers
Publication Date: 2010.06.30 KNIPEX WERK C GUSTAV PUTSCH KG
  • EP1879721B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1879721B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1879721B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to pliers (1), especially cutting pliers or crimping pliers, comprising limbs (2, 3) which cross in a single joint (4) in the longitudinal direction thereof, form co-operating working regions (6) on one side of the joint, and embody grips (5) on the other side of the joint (4). Said limbs (2, 3) are interconnected in such a way that they can only rotate in relation to each other, and co-operating recesses (7, 8) are provided on both limbs (2, 3) in order to guide the rotation. A rotational axis (A) of the limbs (2, 3) is located outside the recesses (7, 8), on the side of the working regions, and a first limb (3) in the joint region (4) is respectively covered, i.e. on both sides, by a lapping part (9) which is connected to the other limb (2) in a fixed manner. The aim of the invention is to provide the inventive pliers with an advantageous structure for the transfer of high gripping forces, also in terms of the forces acting in the joint. To this end, the lapping part (9) is connected to the other limb (2) in such a way that it covers the recesses (7, 8) of the first limb (3).