Wrap Spring Rod Holder for Adjustable Clamping and Easy Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rod-mountable holders for hand-held showers lack optimal functionality, operating convenience, and production efficiency, particularly in terms of reliable clamping and adjustable clamping behavior, and are not easily adaptable to different rod diameters and surface conditions.
Innovation Solution
A rod-mountable holder featuring a wrap spring unit that wraps around the rod passage opening, allowing for adjustable clamping force and easy shifting, with a clamping unit formed by a plurality of wrap springs that can wrap over more than 180° or 360°, and an operating unit that interacts with the wrap springs to transition between clamp and enable positions, ensuring secure attachment and easy movement along the rod.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional clamping units with elastic elements are used, then the holder can be mounted on a rod, but the clamping force is not easily adjustable and the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the clamping mechanism from elastic deformation-based (conventional) to friction-based with geometric constraint (wrap spring). The wrap spring creates a self-adjusting clamping force through its wrapping geometry around the rod, allowing the clamping force to be adjusted by changing the wrap angle or spring tension without complex elastic element assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the elastic element from the clamping unit structure, replacing it with a wrap spring mechanism that uses friction and geometric constraint instead. This removal simplifies the clamping unit by eliminating the need for separate elastic elements, adjustment mechanisms, and associated components.
2Reliability
If the holder is designed for secure clamping, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation for releasing and repositioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wrap spring mechanism is designed to be dynamically adjustable during operation. The user can easily increase or decrease the wrap angle around the rod to adjust clamping force, or completely release the wrap to enable free movement. This dynamic adaptability allows the same mechanism to provide both secure clamping when needed and easy repositioning when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrap spring is pre-configured with an optimal wrap angle that provides sufficient clamping force for reliable mounting. This preliminary configuration ensures that upon installation, the holder automatically achieves reliable clamping without requiring additional adjustment actions, while still allowing easy release by simply reducing the wrap angle.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the clamping unit is designed for adaptability to different rod diameters, then versatility is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wrap spring mechanism serves multiple functions: it adapts to different rod diameters through variable wrap angles, provides adjustable clamping force, and enables easy release and repositioning. This single universal mechanism replaces multiple specialized components that would be needed to achieve the same versatility, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The holder provides reliable clamping and adjustable functionality, allowing for easy operation and adaptation to different rod diameters and surface conditions, with enhanced production efficiency and user convenience, ensuring secure attachment and easy movement along the rod.
Implementation Method 1
a wrap spring unit wrapping around the rod passage opening, which, in case of the holding body attached to the rod, in the enable position enables a shifting movement of the holding body along the rod and in the clamp position exerts a clamping force, which blocks a shifting movement of the holding body along the rod
Implementation Method 2
a wrap spring unit wrapping around the rod passage opening... in the clamp position exerts a clamping force
Data Source
AI summary
A holder including a holding body configured for displaceable attachment to a rod and including a rod passage opening for the rod, and a clamping unit movable between a clamp position and an enable position. The clamping unit, in case of the holding body attached to the rod, in the enable position is capable of enabling a shifting movement of the holding body along the rod and in the clamp position is capable of exerting a clamping force to block a shifting movement of the holding body along the rod. An operating unit is provided for user-operated moving of the clamping unit between the clamp position and the enable position. The clamping unit is a wrap spring unit wrapping around the rod passage opening and comprising a plurality of wrap springs disposed adjacent to each other in a longitudinal axis direction of the rod passage opening, each spring wrapping around the rod passage opening over more than 180°, and/or a wrap spring wrapping around the rod passage opening over more than 360°, wherein the respective wrap spring is movable by the operating unit between a constricting condition providing the clamp position of the clamping unit and an enlarging condition providing the enable position of the clamping unit.