Collinear Hand Tool Implements with Integrated Sharpening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hand tools with movable implements are often bulkier due to side-by-side configurations, and users must carry separate sharpening tools, which can be misplaced and inconvenient to access, especially in remote locations.
Innovation Solution
A hand tool design featuring a rotatable implement and a slideable implement with a shared axis within a common plane, allowing for compact positioning, and integrating a sharpening tool, such as a honing rod, within the handle for immediate access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple implements are positioned side-by-side in a hand tool, then the versatility and functionality of the hand tool is improved, but the thickness or width of the hand tool increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions implements in a collinear arrangement along the longitudinal axis of the handle rather than side-by-side, utilizing the length dimension instead of the thickness dimension to accommodate multiple implements. This dimensional reconfiguration allows multiple implements to be stored within the same thickness envelope while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests multiple implements within the handle structure, with each implement housed in its own compartment or slot along the longitudinal axis. The implements are arranged concentrically or sequentially within the handle's internal volume, maximizing space utilization without increasing external thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a sharpening tool is carried separately from the hand tool, then the sharpening function is available, but the user must carry and track multiple separate items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the sharpening tool with the hand tool by incorporating it into the handle structure. The sharpening implement is positioned within the handle alongside other implements, creating a unified multi-functional tool system. This merging eliminates the need to carry separate sharpening tools while maintaining all sharpening capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand tool is designed as a universal system that combines multiple functions including cutting, slicing, and sharpening capabilities within a single integrated device. The handle structure serves as a platform that accommodates various implements and a sharpening tool, allowing the user to perform multiple tasks without switching between separate tools.
3Ease of operation
If a sharpening tool is integrated into the handle, then accessibility is improved, but the handle structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is segmented into multiple distinct compartments or slots, each dedicated to housing a specific implement or the sharpening tool. This segmentation allows each component to be independently accessed while maintaining an organized structure. The modular compartment design minimizes structural complexity by using simple dividers or slots rather than integrated mechanical systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand tool is provided that includes a handle and one or more implements that are movable relative to the handle. The hand tool may include a first implement that is rotatable within a plane and a second implement that is slidable along an axis that may also lie within that same plane. The implements may include a variety of tools or blades, such as knife blades and cutting hooks. The hand tool may also include locks and/or catches to bias or lock one or more of the implements in retracted and extended positions. The handle may define a groove or other recess for holding an instrument such as a sharpening tool.