Folding Knife Locking Block Curved Slot Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knife lock mechanisms often lack sufficient strength, especially when designed for one-handed deactivation, which can lead to accidental closure and potential injury due to reduced lever arm length caused by wear, resulting in increased forces on the locking mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A folding knife design featuring a locking block with an angled lower engagement surface and a contoured tang surface, where the locking block translates orthogonally to the blade's axis, providing a stable line contact that maintains the blade in an open position and allows for consistent one-handed deactivation, even with wear, by maximizing the lever arm length and minimizing forces on the engagement surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lock mechanism is designed for one-handed deactivation, then ease of operation is improved, but strength and reliability deteriorate due to reduced lever arm length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional linear slot geometry to a three-dimensional curved slot geometry. The slot is configured with specific curvature radii (R1, R2, R3) that create an optimized force transmission path. This dimensional change allows the locking block to engage the tang at multiple points along the curved surface, effectively increasing the lever arm length and distributing forces more favorably, thereby maintaining one-handed operability while significantly improving lock strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies geometric parameters of the slot and locking block, including curvature radii (R1, R2, R3), slot width, and engagement surface angles. By optimizing these parameters, the design achieves a balance where the locking mechanism can be actuated with one hand while the curved geometry provides increased mechanical advantage and reduced forces on engagement surfaces, directly addressing the strength-ease of operation contradiction
2Duration of action of stationary object
If wear occurs on the locking surfaces, then lever arm length decreases, but this results in increased forces on the locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The curved slot geometry is designed to compensate for wear over time. As the locking block and tang surfaces wear, the curved path allows the engagement point to shift along the arc, effectively maintaining a consistent lever arm length. This pre-designed geometric compensation ensures that forces remain distributed favorably throughout the service life of the mechanism, preventing the force increase that would normally occur with wear
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved surfaces throughout the locking mechanism, particularly the slot with its multi-radius geometry and the contoured engagement surfaces of the locking block. These curved surfaces create an arc-shaped engagement path that maintains optimal force distribution even as wear occurs. The curvature allows the contact point to migrate along the arc, preserving the lever arm geometry and keeping forces on the mechanism consistent throughout its service life
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a folding knife are disclosed. In one embodiment, a folding knife is provided that has a handle having a slot having at least one top surface and a blade pivotably connected to the handle, wherein the blade has a tang having a contoured peripheral surface and an open block engagement tang surface, wherein the blade has an axis of rotation. The blade further has a locking block translatable on a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the blade, wherein the locking block has an engagement surface positioned to contact at least one of the contoured peripheral surface and the open block engagement tang surface when the blade is in an open position, and wherein the locking block has at least two bearing surfaces engaging the at least one top surface along two lines.