Hand-held Power Tool Grip Area Activation Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held power tools, such as screwdrivers, face challenges in providing a simple, compact, and reliable activation unit that is easy to operate, while ensuring a stable and robust arrangement within the elongated housing.

Innovation Solution

The handle area is designed as the activation unit, incorporating a protective cap, carrier plate, and actuating element with locking lugs and receptacles, and an actuating pin to activate the switching element of the drive motor, using thermoplastic and hard plastic materials for a cost-effective and secure setup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate activation unit is provided on the elongated housing, then the drive motor can be activated reliably, but the device complexity increases and the compact arrangement is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation mechanism reliabilityVSAvoidactivation unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the activation unit with the gripping area by forming the activation unit directly from the gripping area structure. The gripping area includes a pressing surface that serves dual purposes: providing grip for the user and functioning as the activation surface. This integration eliminates the need for a separate activation unit, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable activation functionality through the pressing surface that can be actuated by the user's thumb or finger.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the activation unit is made with sufficient surface area for easy operation, then ease of operation improves, but the volume of the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation unit operabilityVSAvoidhousing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping area is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the necessary grip surface for holding the tool and incorporates the activation unit functionality through its pressing surface. This multi-functional design allows the same structural element to fulfill both ergonomic gripping requirements and activation operation requirements, eliminating the need for additional space that would be required if these were separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing surface of the gripping area is specifically designed with appropriate local characteristics for activation - a defined surface area with suitable hardness and texture that allows easy actuation by the user's thumb or finger. This localized optimization of the gripping area's pressing surface provides ease of operation without requiring the entire housing to be larger, as only the specific activation zone has the enhanced properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the activation unit is securely fixed within the housing, then reliability improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation unit fixationVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By forming the activation unit directly from the gripping area structure rather than assembling separate components, the patent eliminates the need for complex fixation mechanisms such as screws, clips, or adhesive bonding. The activation unit and gripping area become integral parts of the housing, providing secure fixation inherently while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4344829A1Hand-held power tool having an activation unit
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4344829A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4344829A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4344829A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In a hand-held power tool (100), in particular a screwdriver, with an elongated housing (110) in which at least one drive motor (140) for driving a tool holder (120) is arranged, wherein the tool holder (120) is designed to receive an insert tool (290), and with an activation unit (175) for activating the drive motor (140), wherein the elongated housing (110) has a grip area (115) designed for gripping the hand-held power tool (100), the grip area (115) forms the activation unit (175).