Tick Removal Device with Movable Protective Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tick removal devices are either expensive, difficult to use in hard-to-reach areas, prone to accidental injury, or inconvenient for daily carry due to size and design limitations, and lack effective protection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A tick removal device designed as an elongate stick with a beveled front end and a conically narrowing receiving slot, featuring a movable shell for protection and easy handling, produced through injection molding, which minimizes the risk of injury and allows safe storage, and optionally includes a light source and pressureless medicinally active liquid cartridge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tick removal devices are made small and portable for daily carry, then ease of operation is improved, but safety and protection mechanisms are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a movable protective cap that can be dynamically positioned to cover or expose the working tip. The cap is retained by a spring-loaded mechanism that automatically secures it during storage but allows easy removal during use, providing dynamic protection against accidental injury while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a protective cap, a spring mechanism, a handle, and a working tip with extraction elements. This segmentation allows the protective cap to be independently positioned and removed, enabling safe storage when not in use while maintaining ease of operation when deployed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If spring elements are included for automatic cap retention, then protection mechanism is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is designed to be pre-compressed during assembly and to automatically retain the protective cap without requiring additional power sources or complex control systems. The spring provides continuous elastic force to maintain cap retention, enabling the device to self-regulate its protection state based on whether the cap is in place.
3Ease of operation
If the device is made compact for pocket storage, then ease of operation is improved, but the effectiveness in hard-to-reach areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates an extendable shaft mechanism that allows the working tip to be projected forward from the compact handle body. This dimensional extension enables the tip to reach into hard-to-access areas such as ears or dense fur, while the collapsed configuration maintains compactness for pocket storage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple functional elements are integrated into one device, then device versatility is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple tick removal mechanisms (pincer elements, loop elements, and extraction elements) into a single integrated tip structure. These elements are positioned at different locations on the tip and can be selectively engaged with the tick body, providing multi-functional capability while maintaining a unified compact design that simplifies manufacturing.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The removing device has an elongated pin (1) with a holding clip (7). A movable slider (5) is provided to partially surround the elongated pin. A plate (2) is provided with a conically tapering receiving slot (4) having V-shaped edges. The plate is mounted in the distal end of the pin at an angle of 40-130[deg] . The plate is formed with two prongs. A holding clip is provided to carry the device in a jacket pocket.