Pruner Hook Mechanism for Branch Access and Stable Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pruning tools face issues with hook assemblies that either hinder access to pruning targets or struggle to pull down branches effectively, and may lose balance when placed on the ground, necessitating temporary stops for manual rotation.
Innovation Solution
A pruner design featuring a hook mechanism that displaces between two positions in response to external forces, allowing easy access to pruning targets and preventing the tool from falling when placed on the ground, with a hook that rotates or slides to avoid obstacles and provide stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the size of the hook assembly is large, then the pruned branches are easily pulled down, but the hook assembly may hinder the pruning tool from reaching pruning target brunches
Solution Approach 1:
The hook assembly is designed to be rotatable about the pole's central axis, transforming from a static component to a dynamic one. This rotational freedom allows the hook to adapt its orientation - extending laterally when needed for pulling branches and rotating away when needed for accessing pruning targets, thus resolving the contradiction between pulling effectiveness and operational accessibility
2Force
If the size of the hook assembly is large, then the pruned branches are easily pulled down, but the pruning tool may lose balance and fall when put on the ground or on a mount stand
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable hook assembly can be positioned dynamically - when not in use for pulling branches, it can be rotated to a retracted position closer to the pole's central axis. This reduces the tool's overall width and footprint, improving balance stability when placed on the ground or mount stand, while still maintaining the capability to extend laterally when needed for branch pulling
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hook assembly is manually rotatable, then the hook can be repositioned, but pruning needs to be temporarily stopped to rotate the hook
Solution Approach 1:
The hook assembly is designed to rotate automatically in response to external forces during normal pruning operations. When a pruned branch contacts the hook, the force naturally causes the hook to rotate into the appropriate position for catching and pulling the branch, eliminating the need for manual rotation and maintaining continuous pruning productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A pruner is provided including a pruning mechanism including a pruning blade on a tip side, a pole connected to a base side of the pruning mechanism, and a hook mechanism including a hook that projects to a lateral side substantially orthogonal to a central axis of the pole and that is displaceable in a range from a first position where an end portion is away from the central axis to a second position where the end portion is close to the central axis. The hook is configured to keep the first position when first external force in a direction from the base side toward the tip side is applied, and be displaced from the first position to the second position when second external force in a direction from the tip side toward the base side and/or a direction from the lateral side toward the central axis is applied.