Tool Rack End Piece Curved Protrusion Groove
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional end pieces of tool suspension racks wear out quickly due to their lower hardness compared to the metal racks, leading to a weakened connection and accidental detachment of tool holders.
Innovation Solution
The end piece features a groove structure with a curved protrusion to prevent tool holders from detaching, allowing for easy mounting and changing of tool holders without detaching from the metal rack, and includes tenons for enhanced securement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the end piece is made of plastic with lower hardness than the metal rack, then the end piece is easier to manufacture and mount, but the end piece wears out quickly and the connection is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The end piece is segmented into multiple functional features: a groove structure for tool holder passage, a curved protrusion for preventing accidental detachment, and tenons for securement to the metal rack. This segmentation allows each feature to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining the overall plastic construction for ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The end piece utilizes a composite design combining plastic material with strategically positioned structural features (groove, curved protrusion, tenons) that mimic the function of harder materials. The plastic body provides ease of manufacture and mounting, while the integrated structural features provide the necessary mechanical strength and reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the end piece is made of plastic with lower hardness than the metal rack, then the end piece is easier to manufacture, but the end piece is quickly worn out and loses its function
Solution Approach 1:
The curved protrusion is pre-formed on the inner periphery of the groove structure to create a preliminary protective barrier. This protrusion prevents tool holders from accidentally detaching before any wear can occur, and the tenons are pre-configured to secure the end piece to the metal rack, establishing a durable connection from the outset.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure with curved protrusion acts as a preliminary cushioning mechanism that absorbs and redirects forces that might otherwise cause wear or detachment. The curved geometry distributes mechanical stresses away from critical wear points, protecting the plastic material throughout its service life.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the end piece needs to be detached from the metal rack to change tool holders, then tool holders can be changed, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it allows tool holders to pass through for sliding mounting, the curved protrusion prevents accidental detachment, and the overall structure is secured to the metal rack via tenons. This multi-functionality enables tool holder changes without detaching the end piece from the rack.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool holder is nested within the groove structure of the end piece, allowing it to slide through and be retained by the curved protrusion. This nested arrangement enables easy tool holder changes while maintaining the permanent attachment of the end piece to the metal rack via the tenons.
Data Source
AI summary
An end piece of a tool suspension rack is mounted onto a distal end of a metal rack of the tool suspension rack. The metal rack has at least one slide structure formed thereon for slidably multiple tool holders, wherein at least one distal end of the metal rack has an end piece mounted thereon. The end piece has a groove structure defined therein for allowing the tool holder passing through the end piece such that the tool holders is slidably mounted on the metal rack. The groove structure has a curved protrusion formed on an inner periphery thereof to prevent the tool holders, which are slidably mounted on the metal rack, from accidently detaching from the metal rack.