Handheld Material Moving Tool with Swivel Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand-held tools for material movement, such as gardening tools, often place users in awkward positions, leading to strain and injury, and limit the amount of material that can be moved due to their design, which requires users to be in a standing position and utilize long handles.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held material moving tool with a material engaging implement and a pair of handles connected by a swivel mechanism, allowing for pivot movement and positioned low and in close proximity to the implement, enabling efficient movement of materials without the need for extensive reaching or standing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If long handled tools are used, then the user can maintain a standing position, but the user experiences strain and injury to muscles and the amount of material that can be moved is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional long-handle design by positioning handles at the top surface of the implement rather than extending downward. This allows the user to work in close proximity to the material while maintaining ergonomic hand positioning, thereby increasing material movement capacity without causing muscle strain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by adding vertical handle placement on the implement body. Instead of handles extending only in the longitudinal direction, they are positioned on the top surface, creating a three-dimensional handle arrangement that improves both ergonomics and material engagement capacity.
2Ease of operation
If multiple long handles are added to the implement, then user strain is reduced, but the amount of material that can be moved does not improve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the handle function with the implement body by positioning handles directly on the top surface of the implement rather than as separate extended components. This integration allows the handles to work in conjunction with the implement's material engagement surfaces, simultaneously improving ergonomics and material movement capacity.
3Ease of operation
If small tools like garden trowels are used, then the user is in close proximity to the material, but only a small amount of material can be moved and the handle angle is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the handle angle dynamic by allowing it to be adjusted relative to the implement body. The handle can be positioned at various angles on the top surface, enabling optimization for different material movement tasks while maintaining close user proximity to the material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the tool by positioning handles on the top surface at optimized angles rather than extending in straight lines. This parameter optimization allows for both close user proximity and increased material engagement capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand held material moving tool is disclosed. The material engaging implement has a material engaging portion adapted for movement of material. A handle is connected to a top surface of the tool. The handle is positioned low and in close proximity to the material engaging portion of the implement. The handle is connected to the tool by a swivel mechanism permitting a predetermined amount of pivot of the implement in relation to the handle about an axis.