Adjustable Locking Bar Pivot for Folding Knife Wear Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding knives face issues with lock failure and operational safety due to manufacturing variations and wear, leading to jamming or difficulty in locking and unlocking mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A contoured reinforcement pin and adjustable locking bar pivot mechanism that transfers load pressures and allows for both longitudinal and vertical displacement, ensuring secure engagement and disengagement of the blade, thereby enhancing the locking mechanism's reliability and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed locking bar pivot position is used, then the locking mechanism structure is simple, but the locking mechanism fails due to manufacturing variations and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The locking bar pivot position is made adjustable rather than fixed. The locking bar can be repositioned along the locking bar pivot opening to accommodate wear and manufacturing variations, allowing the mechanism to adapt dynamically to changing conditions while maintaining reliable engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot position parameter of the locking bar is made variable. By allowing the locking bar to be repositioned to different locations along the locking bar pivot opening, the system can change its geometric parameters to compensate for wear and manufacturing tolerances, thereby maintaining reliable operation.
2Reliability
If a contoured reinforcement pin with load transfer is implemented, then lock failure is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A reinforcement pin is introduced as an intermediary component between the locking bar and the handle. This pin transfers load pressures from the locking bar pivot, reducing stress concentrations and preventing lock failure. The contoured surfaces of the reinforcement pin facilitate smooth load distribution.
3Reliability
If the locking bar pivot position is adjustable, then operational safety is maintained, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking bar is pre-positioned during manufacturing at an optimal location along the locking bar pivot opening. This preliminary positioning accounts for expected wear patterns, allowing the knife to be used immediately without requiring the user to adjust the pivot position. The user simply operates the locking mechanism as normal.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding knife having an improved locking mechanism that keeps the knife in open extended use position until specific close actions are initiated. The improved locking mechanism provides a safety pin that is secured within the frame element so as to be positioned between the knife blade and the free end of the locking bar that is spring urged there against imparting movement force transfer locking structure thereto with wear adjustable pivot engagement points of locking mechanism under spring urged locking engagement.