Hand-held Punch Tool Contoured Grip and Offset Force Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing punch tools are inadequate for efficiently transferring force in tight spaces and awkward angles due to lightweight, flexible handles and limited adjustability, which complicates tasks like auto body dent repair and other applications such as carpentry and woodworking.
Innovation Solution
A punch tool with a contoured body and tapered extensions for improved grip, featuring a strike portion with a recessed area for a strike pad and an impact portion with interchangeable tips, allowing for adjustable positioning and force application through a force line that can be centered or offset, facilitating access to various work surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a long slender design is used to reach dents through openings, then access to tight spaces is improved, but the handle becomes too long and inflexible for awkward angles
Solution Approach 1:
The handle incorporates a flexible section with a different cross-sectional geometry that allows bending and articulation, enabling the tool to adapt to awkward angles while maintaining sufficient length to reach tight spaces. This dynamic flexibility resolves the contradiction between needing length for access and flexibility for maneuverability.
2Ease of operation
If a formed handle is used to provide grip, then ease of gripping is improved, but the tool requires substantial length of material increasing weight
Solution Approach 1:
The handle features localized grip enhancements such as textured surfaces, contoured shapes, or rubberized sections only at the gripping areas, rather than making the entire handle thick and heavy. This provides comfortable grip while minimizing unnecessary material and weight.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable tips are used to handle variety of dents, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool employs a universal attachment mechanism that can accommodate multiple tip types and configurations through a single standardized interface. This allows the handle to work with various tip geometries without requiring multiple specialized tools, achieving versatility while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A punch tool includes a body having a contoured profile configured for holding in a user's hand. The body includes at least one opening for receiving a user's digits and the contoured profile has at least one extension configured for contact with another of the user's digits. A strike portion for applying an external force is located at an upper portion of the body centered on a force line extending through the body. An impact portion is located at a lower portion of the body concentric with the force line and has an end tip configured to focus at least a portion of the external force to a work surface.