Surface Spatula Composite Handgrip for Slippery Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface spatulas with metal handles are slippery, making them difficult to hold, and are poor conductors of heat, leading to discomfort during use. Additionally, they can be heavy and cumbersome, especially when used for extended periods on large surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The surface spatula features a shaped connector between the handgrip and the tool holder, with a soft, convex covering made of thermoplastic plastic on the gripping parts. This design provides a secure grip and reduces weight, while the frame is made of hard engineering plastic for durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the handgrip is made of smooth metal profile, then the tool structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the grip becomes slippery and difficult to hold when wet putty is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The handgrip is constructed as a composite structure combining a metal profile core with a plastic covering layer. The metal profile provides structural strength and ease of manufacture, while the plastic covering provides non-slip grip security when wet putty is applied, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and grip security.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic covering is applied selectively only to the gripping portions of the metal profile, not the entire tool. This localized application provides grip security where needed while maintaining the structural properties of the metal profile and minimizing manufacturing complexity.
2Device complexity
If the handgrip is made of metal profile, then the tool structure is simple, but the tool conducts heat well making it cold to touch and uncomfortable during use
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of metal profile with plastic covering reduces heat conduction to the operator's hand. The plastic layer acts as a thermal insulator, preventing the cold sensation from the metal while maintaining the simple overall tool structure.
3Strength
If the handgrip is made of metal profile, then the tool has good structural integrity, but the tool weight increases making it heavy and cumbersome during extended use
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of metal profile and plastic covering creates a composite handgrip that optimizes the strength-to-weight ratio. The metal profile provides necessary structural integrity while the plastic covering adds minimal weight, reducing overall tool weight compared to solid metal construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A surface spatula has a frame provided on the surfaces of the gripping parts with a soft, convex covering (3) made of thermoplastic plastic, which is integrally bonded to the substrate on parts of the outer surfaces of the spatial structure of the frame, shaped in the form of a longitudinal profile (1), preferably made of hard engineering plastic, preferably from the group of plastomers, where the spatial structure of the profile (1) is a closed body, internally ribbed, with the same outline along its entire length, where the covering (3), also made in the form of surface elements (27), is present on the outer surfaces of the handgrip (2) and the connector (5), where in the frontal view of the outline of the profile (1) the manual handle (2) is located in the upper part and has a contour (15) similar to an ellipse and which in the lower part is connected with the outline of the connector (5), situated at the bottom part of the tool.