h a l f b a k e r yLeft for Bread
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Lots of machines small and large have screw-attached
covers (such as battery compartment covers) that need to
be removed and replaced often. Annoyingly, this requires
an appropriate screwdriver or screwdriver surrogate.
For machines where strength isn’t a factor (this idea was
inspired by
a battery-powered cat toy of mine that requires
a rechargeable AA battery swapout about once a week), I
propose an assortment of screw-replacing corrugated
plastic fasteners that can simply be stuck into the
screwholes, with an assortment of easy-to-pull flexible
tabs and rigid nobs extending their heads. Removal and
reinsertion time is reduced from minutes (including the
time needed to find a screwdriver/screwdriver surrogate)
to seconds. Stripping of threads and screwheads is
eliminated.
Could be packaged in blister-packs and sold in hardware,
grocery, and specialty (eg: pet) store checkout displays.
Better patent it (or license and existing patent) quickly –
this could be my route to entrepreneurial easy street!
Body clips ([bs Orthodox Union]'s post)
https://www.belmetr...hop-clips-c-12.html
Sounds like you want a smaller version of these [pashute, May 14 2015]
Body clip
http://www.modelspo...c-car-products/1576
[bs0u0155, May 14 2015]
Body posts
http://www.rcmart.c...ta05-024fbu_001.jpg
[bs0u0155, May 14 2015]
[link]
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This is not an entirely bad idea. |
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However, when you say "corrugated" - you mean the
surrogate screw just has a (pardon the expression)
ribbed
shaft, sort of like the original screw thread, but
designed to
be pulled out and pushed in? If so, it's going to wear. |
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However, if the plastic widget starts
out as a slightly-tapered smooth-sided plug, it could
be
screwed into the hole. Doing so would carve a set of
threads
into the surface, turning it into a plastic screw, which
could
then be unscrewed and rescrewed using the tab. |
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There might be a market for this. I can see it being
useful,
also, as a replacement for lost screws. You'd need to
sell
them as a pack containing a range of diameters - just
pick
whichever is slightly bigger than the original screw,
and use. |
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Change from: Where did I put that pesky screwdriver...? |
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to: Where did I put that pesky blister-pack...? |
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I'd get lots of lawsuit insurance for when the children ate the lithium, nicad, or lkaline batteries. |
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// Anything like [link] ? //
Yes, but where most plastic fastener, like those in the
link are meant to inserted 1 time only, hold strongly, and
have an inconspicuous, low-profile head, the idea’s are
meant to be inserted and removed many times, hold no
more strongly than the users finger grip can overcome,
and have an easy-to-grab head. |
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// you mean the surrogate screw just has a (pardon the
expression) ribbed shaft, sort of like the original screw
thread, but designed to be pulled out and pushed in? If
so, it's going to wear. //
The ribbed surrogate screw should last a hundred or so
remove-insert cycles – 2+ years of weekly uses. It
shouldn’t damage what it screws into, which may be a
cheap plastic case (such as is the case with my cat toy). |
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Another way to look at the idea is that it’s an easy way
to upgrade an inconvenient screw-on hatch with a
convenient finger-latch one, such as those found on
better designed devices. In a more perfect world,
there’d be no need them, because all hatches would be
near perfectly designed. |
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People with diminished vision and fine motor control,
such as older people, are a target market. No more will
they need to pester younger friends, neighbors, and
relatives to change the batteries in their poorly-designed
gadgets. |
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In addition to my kitties’ battery-hungry toy, an
inspiration for this idea is the engine cover shell of my
small electric lawn mower. Occasionally, this otherwise
reliable tool throws its drive belt, requiring 4 1.5” screws
to be backed out then screwed back in, a minutes-long
task with a manual screwdriver, or minutes to fetch and
use an electric one. Over the years, the screw heads are
become gradually worn to near unusability. |
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Hmm, the world of radio controlled cars hasn't taught me
much, but, there are such things as body clips. They work by
replacing the screw with a threaded post. A thin hex section
is used to drive it in. Protruding from the hex section is a
post, this will penetrate through the flat hatch or whatever
you are trying to secure, then, you put a spring clip through
holes in the post and everything is held securely. It's also
how race cars hold their bonnet/hoods down, takes 2
seconds to remove them. Would work well for the mower. |
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Clearly state the difference(s) between this and [link] and
add a drawing. |
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pash, not quite, some of these <link> holding on a body by
sliding through the posts as highlighted <link>. What isn't
shown well is that the clips have a bump perpendicular to
the main springy axis, meaning that they can exert spring
pressure downward too. |
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What's wrong with Cleco fasteners? We use those on some of our drill jigs at work in place of screws. They go right in the existing screw hole. |
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I just took a faucet apart to replace a plastic valve. They used steel screws, now a pile of rust; needed to be drilled out. |
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