Pliers Supporting Stop Snap-Fit Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pliers for tightening levelling cladding tiles face difficulties such as actuation challenges when wearing protective gloves, need for a tool to actuate screws, screw thread deterioration, and risk of unwanted movement due to insufficient tightening, especially when dealing with tiles of varying thicknesses.

Innovation Solution

The pliers feature a supporting stop with a passage for longitudinal movement and relative rotation along a guide bar, secured by a spring and a pawl system with teeth, allowing manual adjustment and secure fastening without screws, enabling easy positioning and secure holding of the levelling element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a screw-based fastening system is used to secure the supporting stop, then the supporting stop can be fastened in different positions, but it becomes difficult to actuate when wearing protective gloves and requires additional tools

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening securityVSAvoidadjustment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the screw-based mechanical fastening system with a snap-fit system featuring a projection on the supporting stop that engages with a corresponding recess in the guide bar. This substitution eliminates the need for screws, allowing workers to adjust the supporting stop position easily with gloved hands while maintaining secure fastening through the interlocking projection-recess mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting stop incorporates a self-adjusting mechanism where the projection automatically engages with the recess when the stop is moved to a new position on the guide bar. The system serves itself by using the movement of the supporting stop to trigger its own securement, eliminating the need for separate fastening actions or tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a screw-based fastening system is used, then the supporting stop can be secured, but the screw thread deteriorates from wear due to frequent changes in position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening securityVSAvoidthread durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fastening function from the screw thread and relocates it to a dedicated snap-fit mechanism consisting of a projection on the supporting stop and a corresponding recess in the guide bar. This separation allows the guide bar to remain stationary and undamaged while the supporting stop carries the wear from repeated engagement and disengagement of the projection-recess interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If a screw-based fastening system is used, then the supporting stop can be fastened, but there is risk of unwanted movement due to insufficient tightening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening simplicityVSAvoidposition stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a preliminary anti-action mechanism where the projection on the supporting stop is designed to engage with the recess in the guide bar in a way that prevents unwanted movement before it can occur. The geometry of the projection-recess interface creates inherent resistance to displacement, ensuring position stability without requiring excessive tightening force or complex fastening procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 simplifies the adjustment of the supporting stop, eliminates the need for tools, and ensures secure, stable positioning of the levelling element, preventing unwanted movement, even when wearing protective gloves and handling tiles of different thicknesses.

Implementation Method 1

a spring (33) which acts against a surface of the guide bar (11) and tends to maintain the supporting stop (3) in the fastening position with respect to the guide bar (11)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a pawl comprising: a row of teeth (13) defined along the guide bar (11), and a stop or tab (34) assembled in the supporting stop (3) and which: in the fastening position of the supporting stop (3) is housed between any two consecutive teeth (13) of the guide bar (11)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS11198208B2Pliers for tightening parts for levelling cladding tiles

Publication Date: 2021.12.14 RUBI TOOLS GROUP SA

AI summary

Pliers for tightening parts for levelling cladding tiles, including: a first arm (1) with a handle (10) and a guide bar (11); a second arm (2) with a handle (20) and a contact surface (21) with a levelling wedge; a rotation shaft (4); and a supporting stop (3) comprising: a passage (31) for assembly in the guide bar; a shaft (32) assembled in a longitudinal slot (12) of the guide bar for the longitudinal movement of the supporting stop (3) with respect to the guide bar (11) and the relative rotation thereof between a fastening position with a pawl (13, 34) and a longitudinal movement position of the supporting stop (3) with respect to said guide bar (11); and a spring (33) which tends to maintain the supporting stop (3) in the fastening position with respect to the guide bar (11).