Pocket Knife Blade Lock Play Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Double action out-the-front pocket knives experience slight longitudinal and/or axial movement or play between the blade and the chassis when the blade is locked in the deployed position, reducing precision and usefulness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a stop pin with a tapered end that extends from the blade to engage with a surface defined by the chassis, preventing movement of the blade with respect to the chassis when locked in the deployed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a double action out-the-front mechanism is used for one-handed operation, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing tolerances and clearances cause movement or play between the blade and chassis when locked
Solution Approach 1:
A stop pin is introduced as an intermediary component between the blade and chassis. The stop pin extends from the blade and engages with a surface defined by the chassis to prevent movement or play between the blade and chassis when the blade is locked in the deployed position, thereby improving manufacturing precision without affecting the double action mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The stop pin is designed with a tapered end that engages with a corresponding surface on the chassis. This geometric parameter change allows the stop pin to effectively eliminate clearance and movement between components while maintaining ease of assembly and operation
Data Source
AI summary
A pocket knife includes a chassis and a blade having a retracted position in which the blade is locked inside of the chassis and a deployed position in which at least a portion of the blade is locked outside of the chassis. An actuator is slidingly engaged with the chassis to reposition the blade between the retracted and deployed positions. A lock is pivotally connected to the chassis and has a surface defined by the lock. A first projection extending from the surface of the lock engages with the blade in the deployed position to lock the blade in the deployed position.