Rotatable Deck Spacer With Visual Width Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deck spacers are difficult to use due to the lack of easy means to distinguish correct widths, which makes it difficult to ensure consistent and uniform spacing between adjacent deck planks.
Innovation Solution
A deck spacer system with rotatable members featuring a front spacer portion and a rear indicator portion, allowing for easy selection and confirmation of uniform spacing through visual indicators and distinct colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple spacer widths are integrated into one tool, then versatility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in distinguishing correct width selection
Solution Approach 1:
Each rotatable member is assigned a distinct color corresponding to its spacer width (e.g., red for 1/16 inch, blue for 1/8 inch, green for 3/16 inch, white for 1/4 inch). This color-coding system allows workers to instantly identify the correct spacer width without confusion, directly resolving the ease of operation issue while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The single spacer tool is segmented into multiple independently rotatable members, each representing a different spacer width. This segmentation allows the tool to accommodate multiple widths (improving versatility) while each segment can be independently selected and identified through color coding (improving ease of operation).
2Ease of operation
If visual indicators are added to indicate spacer width, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator system uses color coding applied directly to the rotatable members themselves, rather than adding separate indicator components. This approach improves ease of operation through clear visual distinction while minimizing device complexity by integrating the indication function into the existing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable members serve dual functions: they act as both the spacer mechanism and the visual indicator system. The colored portions of the rotatable members simultaneously provide the spacing function and the width identification function, eliminating the need for separate indicator components and thus avoiding increased device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A deck spacer system includes a deck in progress and a plurality of deck spacer devices, each including a device body with right and left sides, upper and lower bridges, and an axial pin; and a plurality of elongated rotatable members, each including a front spacer portion and a rear indicator portion with a visual indicator, such that each of the elongated rotatable members are independently rotatable between folded-in and folded-out configurations, such that the deck spacer device is configurable with a selected elongated rotatable member in a folded-out configuration, such that a selected front spacer portion of the selected elongated rotatable member is positionable between adjacent planks of the deck in progress, such that the selected width of the selected elongated rotatable member is visible via the visual indicator of the rear indicator portion.