The http://enablingthefuture.org e-NABLE R&D group is looking for a means of locking down a control line when a finger is in position, so the position can be held without holding the control line, and thus the wrist or elbow, in position. For example, lock fingers around a bike handle, then bike without having to maintain tension on the wrist.

This is a 'work in progress' exploring an approach.

V2 Update:

• Added groove in base to increase grip on line when locked down
• Shortened bracket to ½ length of lever
• Can generate a row of latches in a single bracket

It's customizable, because shouldn't everything be customizable?

Parameters are:

• Radius of large end of latch
• Offset for pivot (the larger this is, the more extreme the difference between 'open' and 'closed' is)
• Length of the lever arm
• Radius of the pin (screw, filament, whatever)
• Width of latch. Should be a bit wider than the line (and allow for angles, etc.).
• Thickness of sides
• Gap between base and latch (default is 0.4mm). Make this smaller to make the latch fit more tightly into the bracket, larger to he looser.
• Tightness to make the latch closer or further from the base, in case we need to tweak this based on real world performance
• Angle of latch for the preview, so you can see how it works
• Line Radius. That is, the size of the line that you're locking down. This is used to generate a groove that the line is pressed into. The radius should be a little smaller than the line, so it's gripped when the latch is locked.
• Number of Latches: Generate a row of latches in a single bracket.
• Part to print: assembled preview, or latch and base to print.