Collapsible Handle and Blade for Instinctive Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-defense devices are often ineffective in close-range attacks, require skill or strength to deploy, and are not designed for instinctive use, posing challenges in panic situations.
Innovation Solution
A self-defense device featuring a collapsible handle, arm, and blade that can be easily deployed through an instinctive pulling motion, with a releasable latch and resilient members to extend and retract components for quick access and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional self-defense devices are used, then they can provide some level of protection, but they require skill or strength to deploy and are not effective in close-range panic situations
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a resilient member that automatically propels the blade forward when the latch is released, eliminating the need for the user to manually extend the blade with hand strength. The device serves itself by using stored elastic energy to complete the deployment action.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member is pre-loaded with elastic energy during the retraction phase, preparing the device for rapid deployment. This preliminary energy storage allows the blade to extend quickly when needed, without requiring strength from the user during the critical moment of deployment.
2Speed
If the blade is kept extended for quick access, then deployment speed improves, but the device becomes unsafe and could be dropped or turned against the user
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is nested within the handle when retracted, and the foot is nested within the blade assembly. This nesting configuration protects the sharp blade when not in use and prevents accidental contact with the user, while still allowing rapid deployment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The releasable latch acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls blade extension. It mediates between the user's intent to deploy and the actual blade movement, ensuring the blade only extends when deliberately released and not during normal handling.
3Volume of moving object
If the device is made compact for portability, then it becomes more wearable and accessible, but the blade and handle have less space to extend
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a compact static form when retracted to an extended dynamic form during deployment. The resilient member enables the blade to dynamically extend beyond the handle's retracted length, providing both portability and sufficient blade length when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade extends in a direction perpendicular to the handle's main axis, utilizing spatial dimension efficiently. This allows the blade to achieve sufficient length for effectiveness while keeping the overall device footprint compact when retracted.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a releasable latch is added to control blade extension, then safety improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is extracted as a separate, dedicated component with a single focused function. This modular approach simplifies the overall design by isolating the safety control function from the blade extension mechanics, making each component simpler rather than more complex.
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 device provides a high state of readiness for sudden close contact attacks, ensuring quick deployment, safety, and compact form-factor, allowing effective defense with minimal training or strength.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member, such as a spring, that can be compressed between the blade and the second end of the handle
Implementation Method 2
A releasable latch is configured to hold the handle in the retracted position
Data Source
AI summary
A self-defense device includes a handle, a body, an arm, and a blade. The handle is coupled to the body. The arm is coupled to the body and to the blade. The handle, the arm, and the blade are each configured to move relative to the body between a retracted position and an extended position. A releasable latch is configured to hold the handle in the retracted position.