Three-Leg Clamp with Resilient Tail for Umbilical Cord Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing clamp designs for cutting objects, such as umbilical cords, often experience misalignment or disengagement issues prior to cutting, which complicates the clamping and cutting process.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a third leg with a clamping bed and a flexible guard in the clamp design secures the object to be cut, preventing misalignment and disengagement, and the use of a T-shaped rail with a flange and resilient tail enhances the clamping mechanism, ensuring the umbilical cord remains in place during the cutting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional two-leg clamp design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the object to be cut is prone to misalignment or disengagement prior to cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is divided into three separate legs instead of a traditional two-leg design. Each leg has its own clamping bed, creating a triangular configuration that provides better stability and prevents misalignment of the object being cut.
Solution Approach 2:
The addition of a third leg transforms the clamp from a planar two-point contact structure to a three-dimensional triangular structure, adding spatial stability and preventing disengagement in multiple directions.
2Ease of operation
If the clamp holder allows rapid disengagement of the first clamp, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of clamping may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp holder incorporates a dynamic release mechanism that allows the first clamp to be rapidly disengaged when needed, while maintaining secure clamping during the cutting operation through the resilient hinge and catch mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient hinge acts as an intermediary element between the clamp legs and the clamp holder, providing both secure retention during cutting and enabling rapid release when the release mechanism is activated.
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
This design significantly improves the ease of use by maintaining the umbilical cord's alignment and secure engagement within the clamp, ensuring reliable and efficient cutting.
Implementation Method 1
a second leg attached to the first leg by a resilient hinge by which the legs are sprung apart
Implementation Method 2
said second leg is extended spaced from the hinge to form a resilient tail, wherein said tail may comprise a tooth on an outer face of said second leg
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A clamp for use in a clamping and cutting device comprising a first leg (10), second leg (14) and third leg (22) which together form a cavity capable of receiving an object to be clamped when open, wherein the second leg (14) has a recessed section (20) such that the third leg (22) fits into the recessed section (20) when the clamp is closed, and a clamping and cutting device for clamping and cutting an object.