Wrench Support Rack Clamp Assembly for Multi-Size Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wrench support rack assemblies rely on friction and vertical stops, which fail to securely hold wrenches of varying sizes and manufacturing tolerances, leading to unwanted movement and potential damage from repetitive insertion and removal.
Innovation Solution
A wrench support rack with a base and clamp assemblies featuring a vertical stop and push member forming a groove, where the vertical stop includes an upper ridge to limit vertical movement and the push member has an inward protrusion to prevent horizontal movement, along with optional support ribs to prevent material bending, and a retention door for additional security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If friction is used to hold wrenches in place, then the structure is simple, but wrenches of varying sizes and manufacturing tolerances cannot be securely held
Solution Approach 1:
The retention system is divided into multiple independent components: vertical stops that limit downward movement, push members that apply upward force, and support ribs that prevent lateral movement. Each component addresses a specific retention need, allowing the system to securely hold wrenches of varying sizes while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the retention structure provide different functions tailored to specific needs: vertical stops provide localized downward constraint, push members provide localized upward force application, and support ribs provide localized lateral support. This localized functionality allows secure retention of wrenches with manufacturing tolerances without requiring complex overall structure
2Device complexity
If only vertical stops are used to hold wrenches, then the structure is simple, but horizontal movement cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple retention functions are merged into a single integrated clamp assembly: vertical stops for downward constraint, push members for upward force, and support ribs for lateral stability. This combination provides complete three-dimensional wrench retention while maintaining relatively simple device complexity through functional integration
3Ease of operation
If friction-based retention is used, then insertion and removal is easy, but repetitive movement causes potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The push members are pre-positioned to apply upward force before wrench insertion, and the vertical stops are pre-positioned to limit downward movement. This preliminary positioning ensures that wrenches are immediately secured upon insertion and prevents excessive movement during removal, reducing damage from repetitive operations while maintaining ease of use
Data Source
AI summary
A wrench support rack including a base, and at least one clamp assembly attached to the base and comprising a vertical stop spaced apart from a push member. The space in between the vertical stop and the push member forms a groove configured to receive a stem of a wrench. The vertical stop includes an upper ridge portion configured to engage a stem of a wrench and limit vertical movement of a wrench disposed in the groove. The push member includes an inward protrusion configured to press a stem of a wrench in to the vertical stop and limit horizontal movement of a wrench disposed in the groove.