Folding Utility Knife with Movable Blade for Extended Edge Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional folding utility knives have limited blade positions and cannot effectively cut through both thin and thick objects due to the restricted range of usable cutting edge, leading to a shorter useful life of the cutting blade.
Innovation Solution
A folding utility knife with a blade holder that allows angular movement between fully open and closed configurations, featuring a blade locking mechanism that engages multiple notches on the indexing edge, enabling the cutting blade to be slid into various in-use positions, extending the usable cutting edge length and allowing for reversible blade orientation to maximize cutting efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the blade holder length is increased to accommodate a longer cutting edge, then the usable cutting edge length is extended, but the blade holder or handle length would increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is made longitudinally movable within the blade holder, allowing it to slide between a retracted position (for storage/carrying) and an extended position (for cutting). This dynamic positioning enables the blade to expose different lengths of its cutting edge without requiring the blade holder itself to be longer, thus resolving the contradiction between usable cutting edge length and blade holder length.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single blade position is used, then the blade holder structure is simple, but the range of usable cutting edge is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed to be longitudinally movable within the blade holder, allowing it to assume multiple positions along its longitudinal axis. This dynamic positioning capability enables the user to expose different lengths of the cutting edge (e.g., full length for thick objects, partial length for thin objects) without complicating the blade holder structure, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the blade is fixed in one position, then the blade holder structure is simple, but the useful life of the cutting blade is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The blade can be moved longitudinally within the blade holder to expose different portions of its cutting edge. This allows the user to utilize the entire length of the cutting edge by advancing the blade as needed, effectively doubling or tripling the useful life of each blade compared to fixed-position designs. The movable mechanism adds minimal complexity while dramatically extending blade longevity.
4Length of moving object
If multiple blade positions are provided, then the usable cutting edge length is extended, but the blade locking mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed with a simple locking mechanism that engages with indexing notches on the blade holder at predetermined positions. This allows the blade to be locked at multiple positions (fully extended, partially extended, retracted) without requiring a complex locking system. The indexing notches provide natural stopping points that simplify the locking mechanism while still enabling multiple blade positions and varying cutting edge exposure.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding utility knife comprises a handle, an angularly movable blade holder, blade holder locking mechanism and a cutting blade with a cutting edge and an opposite indexing edge having a first indexing notch, a second indexing notch and a third indexing notch. A blade locking mechanism has a locking pin for locking engagement with the first indexing notch, the second indexing notch, and the third indexing notch holds the cutting blade in a first blade position, a second blade position and a third blade position, respectively. The cutting blade is removable and rotatable 180 degrees for re-insertion into the blade holder whereat locking engagement of the locking pin with the third indexing notch, the second indexing notch, and the third indexing notch holds the cutting blade in a fourth blade position, a fifth blade position and a sixth blade position, respectively.