Rotatable Coupling Assembly With Movable Stopper Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling devices are complex, difficult to connect or disconnect, and not suitable for medical environments due to their complexity and inability to allow for adjustment or easy cleaning and sterilization, while also lacking the ability to securely attach items during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A coupling device with a base member and a plate member that are releasably connectable via a stopper and actuation mechanism, allowing for quick connection and disconnection, rotational movement, and easy cleaning, featuring a stopper that moves between neutral and locked positions to secure the plate member to the base member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If known coupling devices use fixed connection mechanisms, then connection stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in connection and disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is designed to be movable between a neutral position (allowing connection) and a locked position (providing stable connection). This dynamic element allows the coupling device to transition between ease of operation and connection stability as needed.
2Reliability
If known coupling devices use complex multi-component structures, then connection stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides alignment guidance during connection, locks the connection in the locked position, and enables easy release when returned to the neutral position. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper serves multiple purposes: alignment feature, locking mechanism, and release actuator. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining connection stability.
3Reliability
If known coupling devices use fixed positioning mechanisms, then connection stability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to allow adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The movable stopper allows the coupling device to be dynamically adjusted between connected and disconnected states, providing adaptability while maintaining stability when locked in the connected position.
Data Source
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AI summary
A coupling device (20) includes base and plate members that are connectable to one another. The base member (22) has a body (30) with a coupling face, a stopper (32) connected to the body and moveable between neutral and locked positions, and an actuation mechanism for moving the stopper. In a connected mode of the coupling device, a contact portion (56) of the coupling face contacts a contact face of the plate member, and an alignment area (58) of the contact portion corresponds to a position of an opening (172) of the plate member. In the neutral position, the stopper is aligned with the alignment area and can be received in the opening thereby permitting removal of the plate member from the base member (22). In the locked position, the stopper is misaligned with the alignment area, and extends over a part of the plate member to restrict movement of the plate member away from the base member (22).