Folding Knife Pivoting Blade Guard Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Folding knives, including Balisong types, expose the blade during transition between closed and open positions, posing a risk of injury to the user.

Innovation Solution

A folding knife design featuring a pivoting blade and guard, where both components rotate on a common pivot pin, with arcuate slots in the handle and guard that limit rotation, ensuring the blade is nested within the guard in both positions, and a locking mechanism to prevent accidental closure on the user's fingers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the blade transitions between closed and open positions in traditional folding knives or Balisongs, then the blade becomes exposed for use, but the user is at risk of injury from the exposed blade during transition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade operationVSAvoidblade exposure injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is nested within the guard during transition, with the guard acting as a protective container that keeps the blade hidden while allowing controlled movement. The guard receives and contains the blade in its retracted position, preventing exposure during operation transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The guard serves as an intermediary component between the blade and the user's fingers. During blade transition, the guard intercepts and protects against the blade, preventing direct contact with the user's fingers while still allowing the blade to move between positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a guard is added to protect the blade during transition, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade exposure injury riskVSAvoidknife structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guard and blade share a common pivot pin, merging their rotation mechanisms. The arcuate slots in both components work together with a single tang pin, combining multiple limiting functions into an integrated system rather than separate independent mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common pivot pin serves multiple functions: it pivots both the blade and the guard, and it acts as a stop for both components through the arcuate slots. The tang pin similarly serves as both a connector and a limiting mechanism for both the blade and guard rotations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the blade is kept nested within the guard during transition, then safety is improved, but the ease of quick manipulation similar to Balisong is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade exposure injury riskVSAvoidquick manipulation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows dynamic movement where the blade and guard can rotate together as a unit during quick manipulation. The arcuate slots permit the tang pin to travel dynamically along the arc, enabling rapid opening and closing motions while maintaining safety through the nested configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7325312B1Folding knife with pivoting blade and guard

Publication Date: 2008.02.05 SPYDERCO INC

AI summary

A folding knife having a handle, a pivoting blade guard, and a pivoting blade. Both the guard and the blade pivot on a common pivot pin that is secured to or within the handle. Both the handle and the guard feature at least one arcuate slot that extends in an arc around the pivot pin. A tang pin located in the tang of the blade rides in the arcuate slots and serves as a stop for both the handle and the guard, limiting the range of their rotation on the pivot pin.