Sheet Clamp With Tapered Channel And Removable Block
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current clamps for bed sheets struggle to securely hold modern fabrics with low friction additives, such as silicone, due to insufficient force application, and are often bulky and difficult to apply or remove.
Innovation Solution
A sheet clamp with a body and clamping block design that creates a channel with tapering side walls and a pivotally mounted retaining member, allowing for secure engagement of sheets with adjustable angles and materials like polypropylene for durability, enabling effective force application and easy handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction-based clamping methods are used, then sheet holding capability is improved, but the clamp becomes bulky and difficult to apply and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is divided into two main segments: a body portion and a clamping block. The clamping block can be inserted through the body's channel and removed independently, allowing for easy application and removal while maintaining the friction-based holding capability through the tapered engagement surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping block is extracted as a separate removable component from the main body. This allows the block to be inserted through the channel and engaged with the sheet independently, simplifying the application process and enabling easy removal by pulling the block through the channel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modern fabrics with low friction additives are used, then sheet comfort and properties are improved, but clamping reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet is wrapped around the clamping block before insertion into the channel. This preliminary wrapping action creates initial friction engagement and ensures the sheet is securely positioned around the block before the clamp is fully engaged, preventing slippage even with low-friction fabrics.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping block features a curved or rounded surface that the sheet wraps around. This curvature increases the contact area and friction between the sheet and block, improving clamping reliability on low-friction fabrics while maintaining comfort and adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If the clamp size is reduced for ease of handling, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to apply sufficient force deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp utilizes a dynamic mechanical advantage system where the tapered surfaces of the body and clamping block create a wedging action. This allows a small manual insertion force to be amplified into a large clamping force, enabling the compact clamp to apply sufficient force while remaining easy to handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered engagement surfaces between the body and clamping block act as an intermediary mechanism. This intermediary geometry transforms the small force applied during insertion into a large sustained clamping force, allowing the compact clamp to maintain adequate force application capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The clamp provides secure force application to a wide range of sheet materials, is compact and easy to use, and can be disinfected for multiple patient use, addressing the limitations of existing clamps by ensuring reliable sheet engagement and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The side walls of the channel and the block sides taper uniformly from the second side to the first side. The side walls and block sides may have a V-shaped configuration in cross section.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp for engaging one or more sheets of fabric for moving or repositioning an immobile occupant of a bed or trolley, the clamp having a body with chamfered channel, a block configured to be received within the channel, and a returning member to selectively permit the block to be removed from the channel.