Knife Storage Container With Retractable Blade Sharpener
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knife blocks and utensil holders do not conveniently integrate blade dressing tools, leading to storage space issues and accessibility problems when dressing knives and other utensils.
Innovation Solution
A container with a pivotally mounted blade-dressing assembly that includes a carrier and dressing component, allowing for selective blade dressing and storage, enabling the blade to be dressed when needed without sacrificing space for other utensils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dressing apparatus is stored in the knife block, then blade dressing function is provided, but storage space for other utensils is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The blade dressing assembly is nested within the knife block housing, with the carrier containing the dressing component stored inside the housing when not in use. This nesting approach allows the dressing function to be integrated into the knife block without permanently occupying external storage space, as the dressing component is compactly stored within the existing housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is made movable between a stored position (where it occupies minimal space within the housing) and an operating position (where it extends outward for blade dressing). This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt its volume based on operational needs, providing the dressing function only when required while maintaining maximum storage space during normal operation.
2Volume of stationary object
If a dressing apparatus is stored elsewhere, then storage space is preserved, but accessibility and convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The blade dressing assembly is merged with the knife block by providing a movable connection between the carrier and the housing. This merging allows the dressing function to be accessed directly from the knife block location where knives are stored, eliminating the need to separately locate and handle a standalone dressing apparatus, thereby improving convenience and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable carrier enables easy access to the dressing component by allowing it to be quickly extended from the stored position to the operating position. This dynamic mechanism ensures that the dressing function is readily accessible whenever needed, while maintaining a compact integrated structure that preserves storage space when the dressing component is not in use.
3Ease of operation
If the carrier is always in the operating position, then blade dressing is always accessible, but storage space for utensils is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is designed to be movable between stored and operating positions, allowing it to be extended only when blade dressing is needed. When in the stored position, the carrier occupies minimal space within the housing, maximizing utensil storage capacity. When extended to the operating position, it provides immediate access to the dressing component without permanently reducing storage space.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier transitions between stored and operating positions periodically based on when blade dressing is required. This periodic deployment ensures that the dressing function is accessible when needed while maintaining a compact configuration during normal storage operations, thus balancing accessibility with space efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A container for storing at least one object, such as a knife, utensil, and the like, wherein the object has a blade that is occasionally dressed is disclosed. The container includes a housing presenting an object-receiving opening and a blade-dressing assembly configured to provide selective dressing of the blade. The blade-dressing assembly includes a carrier and a dressing component supported on the carrier. The carrier is shiftably supported on the housing so as to move between a storage position in which the dressing surface is incapable of engaging the blade and an operating position in which the dressing surface is engageable by the blade.