Telescopic item and mechanism therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telescopic mechanisms for toys and other applications lack a safe and efficient method to extend and retract segments without causing injury or mechanical failure, particularly when encountering rigid objects, and often require rigid friction stops that can lead to unintended extension or retraction.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic mechanism featuring flexible and resilient nut threads that engage with a spindle, allowing the nut to slide over the spindle threads when a threshold force is applied, combined with a segment extension stopper to prevent over-extension, ensuring safe and automatic extension and retraction without rigid friction stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid friction stops are used to prevent over-extension, then mechanical integrity is maintained, but the mechanism cannot safely retract when encountering rigid objects
Solution Approach 1:
The nut threads are designed with flexible material properties that allow them to change their engagement characteristics. Under normal operation, they maintain rigid engagement for mechanical integrity, but under excessive force, they deform to allow sliding and automatic retraction, thus adapting the parameter of thread rigidity to different force conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible nut threads convert the harmful excessive force from rigid objects into a beneficial automatic retraction mechanism. When force exceeds the threshold, the thread deformation allows the nut to slide and release, transforming the harmful impact into a safety feature that prevents injury
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid friction stops are used to prevent segment detachment, then segments remain securely attached, but segments cannot quickly retract when force is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The nut threads transition from a static rigid friction stop to a dynamic flexible connection. The flexible material allows the threads to deform under load, enabling quick retraction when force is applied, while maintaining stable attachment during normal operation through elastic recovery
3Reliability
If sturdy nut threads are used to ensure reliable engagement with the spindle, then the nuts will move back and forth smoothly, but the mechanism lacks flexibility to slide over threads under excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The nut thread material properties are specifically selected to change their mechanical parameters under different force conditions. The flexible yet sturdy material maintains reliable engagement during normal operation but allows sliding when force exceeds the threshold, thus adapting to varying force conditions
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 mechanism provides a safe and efficient means to extend and retract segments, preventing accidental poking forces and allowing for quick retraction, while maintaining mechanical integrity and enabling easy swapping of blade segments.
Implementation Method 1
the nut threads are flexible and resilient enough whereby the nut threads will slide over the spindle threads if the distal telescopic blade segment is pushed above a given threshold force
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A telescopic mechanism including a plurality of hollow telescopic blade segments, The mechanism includes a threaded spindle having spindle threads, disposed within the telescopic blade segments; a plurality of nuts configured to correspond to and interface with the spindle; and a power mechanism configured to spin the spindle. Each of the nuts respectively interfaces at the proximal portion of each of the hollow blade segments and the nuts have nut threads corresponding to the spindle threads. The nut threads are configured whereby the nuts will move back and forth over the spindle threads when the spindle is rotated; however, the nut threads will slide over the spindle threads if the distal telescopic blade segment is pushed above a given threshold force into a suitably rigid body or object in order to allow any extended blade segments to retract.