Wireless Tool Tag Housing for Heat-Resistant Handle Molding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RFID tags used on metal tools are fragile and prone to damage during manufacturing processes due to high temperatures and pressures, making them costly and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A housing assembly or article is used to encompass or partially house the RFID tag, protecting it from environmental conditions and maintaining its position during handle molding, while ensuring optimal scanning range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a ceramic on-metal RFID tag is used, then the tag can withstand high temperatures and pressures during manufacturing, but the cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetag durabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A molded article serves as an intermediary protective structure between the fragile RFID tag and the harsh manufacturing environment. The article is formed over the tag during the handle molding process, providing mechanical protection without requiring the tag itself to be made of expensive ceramic material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inexpensive RFID tags that would normally be fragile, but protects them with a disposable molded article that is integrated into the handle. This approach replaces expensive durable tags with cheap tags plus a protective structure, achieving the same reliability at lower cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If a fragile RFID tag is used, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the tag is damaged during handle molding processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetag costVSAvoidtag integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The molded article is formed in advance during the handle molding process to provide protective cushioning for the RFID tag. This pre-formed protective structure prevents damage during subsequent manufacturing and handling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The molded article acts as a flexible or semi-rigid shell that encases the RFID tag, providing protection while allowing the tag to maintain its fragile but inexpensive construction. The shell absorbs mechanical stresses that would otherwise damage the tag.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the RFID tag is positioned close to the metal tang for optimal scanning range, then the scan range improves, but the tag is exposed to heat and pressure during molding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescan rangeVSAvoidthermal and mechanical exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The molded article serves as an intermediary barrier between the RFID tag and the metal tang, allowing the tag to be positioned close to the tang for optimal scanning while the article protects it from heat and pressure during the molding process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12579395B2Tool having a detectable wireless marker or tag

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 DEXTER-RUSSELL

AI summary

A tool having a detectable wireless marker or tag is provided. The tool has a working portion with a projection or tang by which the working portion of the tool is held, a wireless tag located near the tang, and a handle disposed over and encompassing the tang and the tag. In one embodiment, an article is formed onto the tang. The article includes a side opening in the form of a downwardly sloped slot sized to securely anchor and partially encompass the tag, which extends above and beyond the tang contained within the article. The invention allows for the use of fragile tags, which are protected by the inventive article from temperatures and pressures used during, for example, tool handle manufacturing processes. Also provided is a method for providing a tool with a detectable wireless tag, and a method for tracking and tracing tools used within a packaging facility.