Foldable Utility Knife with Nested Retractable Blade
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing utility knives pose a safety hazard due to the blade being exposed during transition between folded and unfolded positions, as the blade holder pivots into and out of the handle, exposing the cutting edge during movement.
Innovation Solution
A foldable utility knife design featuring a first and second handle member that rotate relative to each other, with the second handle member housing a retractable cutting blade that can be moved between retracted and extended positions, allowing the blade to be fully enclosed within the handle when folded and exposed for use when open, utilizing a mechanism such as a button to control blade extension and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the blade holder pivots into and out of the handle during folding and unfolding, then the knife can transition between folded and unfolded positions, but the blade remains exposed during transition creating a safety hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is nested within the blade holder portion, which itself is nested within the handle. During folding, the blade holder pivots into the handle while the blade remains enclosed within the blade holder's recesses, creating a nested configuration where the blade is protected even during transition. This nested structure eliminates the safety hazard of exposed blade during folding/unfolding operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the blade is fully enclosed within the handle when folded, then safety is improved, but the blade cannot be quickly extended for use
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is pre-positioned in extended readiness within the blade holder portion, with the blade holder configured to pivot outward in a single smooth motion. The blade is already aligned and prepared for immediate use once the blade holder pivots out, eliminating the need for separate blade extension actions and enabling quick deployment from the folded position.
3Device complexity
If the blade holder portion is integrated into the handle, then the knife structure is simplified, but the blade cannot be easily exchanged
Solution Approach 1:
The blade holder portion is segmented as a separate, removable component from the handle, allowing the blade to be exchanged by simply removing the blade holder portion from the handle. This segmentation maintains structural simplicity while enabling easy blade replacement, as the blade and its holder can be removed and replaced as a unit without disassembling the entire knife structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A utility knife configured to provide a user with a variety of configurations. The utility knife includes first and second handle members configured to move relative to one another between open (e.g. unfolded) and closed (e.g., folded) positions. The knife further includes a retractable blade within the second handle member. The retractable blade may be moved between a retracted position, wherein most, if not all, of the blade is maintained within the second handle member, and an extended position, wherein a portion of the blade is exposed. The knife is configured to allow the blade to be in retracted and extended positions when the first and second handle members are in either the unfolded or folded positions.