Cutting Tool Handle With Inclined Cylindrical Reliefs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cutting tool handles, particularly in the agri-food industry, face issues with grip safety due to grease accumulation, leading to increased risk of injury and discomfort, as existing solutions with high adhesion materials or protrusions either fail to maintain effective grip or are difficult to clean.
Innovation Solution
A cutting tool handle with staggered, cylindrical reliefs inclined at 45° and made of flexible material with specific Shore A hardness, arranged in parallel rows to provide effective grip and ease of cleaning, while avoiding discomfort and promoting user safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If numerous adjacent protrusions are provided on the handle to improve grip, then the adhesion power is enhanced, but the cleanability of the handle deteriorates due to grease accumulation on the protrusions
Solution Approach 1:
The handle surface is segmented into multiple discrete reliefs (protrusions) arranged in a specific pattern, allowing grease to accumulate in the spaces between them rather than forming a continuous film, thereby maintaining cleanability while providing grip enhancement
Solution Approach 2:
The reliefs are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration with specific spacing and positioning, creating multiple levels and zones on the handle surface that prevent grease film continuity while maintaining adhesion properties
2Reliability
If rigid protrusions are provided on the handle to improve grip, then the adhesion power is enhanced, but user comfort deteriorates due to discomfort during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The reliefs are positioned specifically in zones where they provide grip enhancement without contacting sensitive areas of the hand, and their geometric properties (curved generatrix, hooking members) are optimized to provide adhesion while maintaining comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The reliefs feature a curved generatrix with concavity facing outward, creating a rounded, ergonomic shape that provides grip through geometry rather than rigidity, thereby enhancing adhesion while maintaining user comfort during handling
3Strength
If the handle surface is made continuous to improve structural integrity, then the strength is enhanced, but the grip safety deteriorates due to formation of slippery grease film
Solution Approach 1:
The handle surface is divided into discrete relief elements with spaces between them, preventing the formation of continuous grease films while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the handle body
Solution Approach 2:
The spaces between reliefs that might be considered defects are actually beneficial as they prevent grease film continuity, converting what could be seen as structural weakness into a feature that enhances grip safety by preventing slippery film formation
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 handle ensures a secure and comfortable grip even in greasy environments, reduces the risk of injury, and facilitates easy maintenance and hygiene, with an optimal density of reliefs providing effective adhesion without compromising user comfort or cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
each relief is made of a material with a Shore A hardness of between 70 and 99
Implementation Method 2
The presence of reliefs thus configured and arranged, de facto, staggered between two rows parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle, makes it possible to obtain an effective grip
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The handle (1) for a cutting tool is provided with a device that makes the handle easier for a user to hold in his hand. This device comprises at least four reliefs (10) arranged in a parallelogram (C) that is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (A-A') of the handle (1), the reliefs (10) are substantially cylindrical with a curved generatrix the concavity of which faces outwards. The periphery of the top of each relief extends towards the outside of the body of the relief, near the top, so as to form a catching member. The invention is particularly intended for the knives used in the agri-foodstuffs industry.