Folding Knife Back Lock Safety Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional back lock folding knives require two hands to close safely, are prone to inadvertent closure due to shock or impact, and can cause injury.
Innovation Solution
A folding knife design featuring a rocker lock with a secondary safety element that, when engaged, prevents accidental closure by obstructing the rocker lock's movement, making it resistant to shock and impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a back lock mechanism is used to lock the blade open, then the blade can be securely held in the open position, but the rocker arm can be inadvertently dislodged by shock or impact causing unintentional blade closure
Solution Approach 1:
A safety element is introduced as an intermediary component between the user and the rocker lock mechanism. This safety element must be deliberately actuated to disengage the rocker lock, preventing inadvertent closure while maintaining secure locking when engaged. The safety element serves as a mediator that controls access to the lock disengagement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety element is configured to be engaged by default, preliminarily preventing the rocker lock from being dislodged by shock or impact. The user must first disengage the safety element before the rocker lock can be actuated, ensuring that the locking mechanism is protected against unintended activation.
2Ease of operation
If the rocker arm is exposed for easy actuation, then one-handed operation is enabled, but the exposed portion becomes vulnerable to accidental depression
Solution Approach 1:
The safety element acts as an intermediary barrier between the exposed rocker lock and unintended activation forces. While the rocker lock remains exposed for easy one-handed operation, the safety element must be deliberately moved to a disengaged position before the rocker lock can be actuated, preventing accidental depression while maintaining operational accessibility.
3Reliability
If the safety element is always engaged to prevent accidental closure, then blade security is maximized, but intentional closure becomes more complex requiring two hands
Solution Approach 1:
The safety element is designed to be dynamically configurable between an engaged state (providing maximum security) and a disengaged state (enabling intentional closure). The user can transition the safety element between these states based on operational needs, allowing the system to adapt between security-maximizing and operation-facilitating modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure operation is segmented into two independent actions: first disengaging the safety element, then actuating the rocker lock. This segmentation allows the safety element to provide security during normal operation while enabling deliberate two-step closure when needed, separating the security function from the closure function.
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
Enables safe one-handed closure and prevents unintentional blade closure, enhancing user safety by maintaining the blade in the open position until intended closure.
Implementation Method 1
The rocker arm includes a head portion that is spring-biased to engage a notch on the blade's tang
Data Source
AI summary
A folding knife has an elongated blade having a pivot end and an opposed free end, the pivot end of the blade pivotally connected to a handle, the blade being movable between a closed position in which the blade is protectively received by the handle and an open position in which the blade extends away from the handle, a back lock element pivotally connected to the handle and having a block portion, the back lock element movable between a locked position in which the block portion operably contacts a portion of the pivot end of the blade to prevent movement of the blade from the open position to the closed position, and an unlocked position in which movement of the blade from the open position to the closed position is enabled, and a safety element movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.