Rake With Wheels And Detachable Mini Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing yard tools are inefficient in moving leaves, especially when they encounter obstructions, and lack adjustable handles for user comfort and reach.
Innovation Solution
A rake with a detachable handle and mini rake attachment, featuring adjustable length and incidence angle, and supported by wheels to reduce friction and facilitate leaf movement around obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional rake is used to move leaves, then leaves can be gathered, but the rake encounters high friction and cannot efficiently navigate around obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The rake system is segmented into multiple components: a main rake head with tines for gathering leaves, a detachable handle for user operation, and a mini rake attachment for navigating obstructions. This segmentation allows the user to switch between tools based on the specific task, improving overall productivity and ease of operation around obstructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is designed to universally couple with both the main rake head and the mini rake attachment, creating a multi-functional system. This universality allows a single handle to perform multiple functions by attaching different heads, enabling efficient leaf collection in various scenarios including tight spaces around obstructions.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed-length handle is used, then the structure is simple, but the user cannot adjust for different reach requirements or comfort levels
Solution Approach 1:
The handle incorporates an adjustable length mechanism with telescopic sections that can be extended or retracted based on user needs. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the handle to adapt to different reach requirements and comfort preferences while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of standard telescopic joint mechanisms.
3Force
If the rake head weight is increased to provide more force for moving leaves, then leaf moving capability improves, but the rake becomes harder to maneuver and control
Solution Approach 1:
The rake head incorporates a pair of wheels that act as counterweights and support elements. These wheels support the weight of the rake head and establish a travel height, reducing the effective weight that the user must maneuver while maintaining the structural integrity and force-gathering capability of the rake head for moving leaves.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a mini rake attachment is added to handle tight spaces, then the system can navigate obstructions, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mini rake is designed as a separate, detachable attachment that can be coupled to or removed from the handle as needed. This segmentation allows the system to gain the adaptability of having a mini rake for tight spaces without permanently increasing the complexity of the main rake structure. The attachment uses a simple coupling mechanism that mirrors the main rake's interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is designed with a universal coupling interface that accommodates both the main rake head and the mini rake attachment. This universality allows the same handle to perform multiple functions by simply changing the attached head, providing adaptability for different scenarios without requiring separate dedicated handles for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
The rake comprises a rake head, a handle, and a mini rake attachment. A pair of wheels may be adapted to support the weight of the rake head and to establish a travel height for the rake head. The handle may detachably couple to the rake head and may be adapted to be held by a user such that the user may push or pull the rake head over leaves. A plurality of tines located on the underside of the rake head may force the leaves to move along with the rake head. A handle length and an incidence angle of the handle may be adjustable. The mini rake attachment may couple to the handle in place of the rake head. The mini rake attachment may be operable to move the leaves away from an obstruction where the rake head does not fit.