Integrally Formed Soft Gel Handle for Retractable Leash
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current retractable leashes with soft gel handles are insufficiently reinforced, leading to user injury and potential damage when pets exert strong pulling forces, causing the leash components to separate and potentially harm passers-by.
Innovation Solution
A handle structure featuring a single, integrally formed soft gel holding piece with arc-shaped bulges, connected to the leash housings via mounting slots and flanges, eliminating screws and enhancing firmness and user protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a soft gel layer of less than 2 mm is provided on two sides of the handle, then user comfort is improved, but the handle strength and protection capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining soft gel material with a reinforcing layer. The soft gel layer provides comfort to the user's hand, while the reinforcing layer (made of harder material) embedded within or attached to the soft gel provides structural strength and resistance to pulling forces. This composite approach allows both comfort and strength to coexist in the same handle.
2Ease of manufacture
If the handle is formed by assembling the two sides of the handle, then manufacturing ease is improved, but the handle reliability and resistance to pulling forces deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into two separate housing halves (first housing half and second housing half) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled together. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and assembly processes, while the reinforcing layer and mounting members ensure that the assembled handle maintains sufficient reliability and resistance to pulling forces.
3Strength
If screws or set screws are used to connect the left housing and right housing, then connection firmness is improved, but device complexity and ease of repair deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional screw or set screw connection mechanism from the handle assembly. Instead, the first and second housing halves are connected through the reinforcing layer and mounting members integrated into the soft gel handle structure, eliminating the need for separate fastening components and simplifying the overall device.
4Ease of manufacture
If the soft gel is not reinforced, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the protection capability against user injury deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite handle structure where the soft gel material is combined with a reinforcing layer. The soft gel provides comfort and cushioning to protect the user's hand, while the reinforcing layer adds structural integrity and resistance to high-speed pulling forces, thereby reducing the risk of user injury without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A structure of a handle for a retractable leash comprises a holding piece; the holding piece is formed integrally as one piece by soft gel; a housing of the retractable leash is an assembly of a left housing and a right housing; the holding piece is fitted between the left housing and the right housing.