V-Shaped Non-Conductive Hand Tool for Safe Industrial Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Workers in industrial settings face risks of static electrical discharges and injuries while using hand tools for pushing, pulling, gripping, and manipulating objects, necessitating a non-conductive hand tool with enhanced safety and mechanical leverage.

Innovation Solution

A hand tool with a V-shaped or modified V-shaped tool head featuring prongs and resilient gripping members, made from non-conductive materials like fiberglass, with a handle connected to the tool head via a reinforcing sleeve, providing multiple gripping edges and hooks for enhanced safety and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional conductive hand tools are used for pushing, pulling, and gripping objects, then mechanical leverage and gripping capability are provided, but workers are exposed to static electrical discharges and current that can result in severe injury or death

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against electrical injuryVSAvoidelectrical discharge risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrical conductivity parameter of the hand tool by using non-conductive materials (fiberglass, composite materials) instead of traditional conductive materials like metal. This parameter change eliminates the harmful electrical discharge risk while maintaining the tool's mechanical functionality for pushing, pulling, and gripping objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials, specifically fiberglass and other non-conductive composite materials, to construct the hand tool. These composite materials provide both the necessary mechanical strength for industrial applications and electrical non-conductivity for worker safety, simultaneously addressing both the mechanical performance and safety requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a non-conductive hand tool is used to eliminate electrical discharge risk, then worker safety is improved, but mechanical leverage and gripping strength may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical safetyVSAvoidmechanical leverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses fiberglass and composite materials that provide high strength-to-weight ratios and sufficient mechanical leverage for industrial applications. These materials maintain the necessary structural integrity and gripping strength while being electrically non-conductive, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and mechanical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the physical parameters of the non-conductive materials, including thickness, density, and structural configuration, to ensure adequate mechanical leverage and gripping strength. By carefully controlling these parameters, the tool achieves both electrical safety and mechanical effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple hand tool design is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but versatility for multiple applications (pushing, pulling, gripping, manipulating) is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmulti-application capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the hand tool with multiple functional features including pushing surfaces, pulling hooks, gripping edges, and manipulating prongs, all integrated into a single tool body. This multi-functional design allows the tool to perform various operations (pushing, pulling, gripping, manipulating) without requiring multiple separate tools, achieving versatility while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through integrated construction.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates distinct functional segments or features within the tool body, such as separate hooks for pulling, edges for gripping, and surfaces for pushing. These segmented functional elements are integrated into the overall tool structure, providing versatility for multiple applications while maintaining a unified design that is relatively simple to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8376430B1Hand tool
Publication Date: 2013.02.19 LHR SERVICES & EQUIP
  • US8376430B1 patent drawing
  • US8376430B1 patent drawing
  • US8376430B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A hand tool including a handle and a tool head. The tool head is a V-shaped or modified V-shaped tool head.