Knife Sharpening Sheath With Rotatable Locking Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knife sheaths with safety devices are not ergonomic, require both hands for unlocking, weaken the blade, and complicate sharpening due to the safety lock being at the cutting edge, making production difficult and potentially interfering with blade movement during sharpening.
Innovation Solution
A sheath with a locking mechanism that uses a rotatable arm and biasing means to automatically immobilize the knife, allowing single-hand operation for locking and unlocking, and incorporates a sharpening device that optimizes blade sharpening by maintaining a consistent angle regardless of curvature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the safety lock is arranged at the cutting edge of the blade, then the knife can be immobilized in the sheath, but the blade is weakened and sharpening is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The safety locking mechanism is extracted from the blade and relocated to the sheath. The sheath now contains the locking element that engages with a safety element on the blade's back, removing the need for modifications at the cutting edge and preserving blade integrity while maintaining immobilization functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A safety element is introduced as an intermediary component on the back of the blade that cooperates with the locking element in the sheath. This mediator enables the locking function without requiring direct engagement at the cutting edge, thus preserving blade strength while achieving reliable immobilization.
2Reliability
If the safety lock is arranged at the cutting edge, then the knife can be immobilized, but the device complexity increases and production becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The complex locking mechanism is extracted from the blade and placed in the sheath, which is easier to manufacture. The blade requires only a simple safety element on its back, while the sheath contains the locking element and biasing means, simplifying blade production and allowing standard manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the locking mechanism on the blade (traditional approach), the invention inverts the arrangement by placing the locking element in the sheath and the safety element on the blade. This inversion simplifies blade manufacturing while achieving the same immobilization function.
3Reliability
If the safety lock is at the cutting edge, then immobilization is achieved, but the hand must be placed beneath the handle during unlocking which is unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is extracted from the cutting edge area and relocated to the sheath body. This allows the user to operate the locking element with their thumb or fingers on the side of the sheath, away from the cutting edge, eliminating the safety hazard of placing hands near the sharp blade during unlocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element in the sheath acts as an intermediary that allows safe remote operation. The user can engage and disengage the lock from a safe position on the sheath body without needing to place fingers near the cutting edge, while the safety element on the blade back provides the necessary engagement point.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures ergonomic and secure storage and handling of the knife, facilitates single-hand operation, maintains blade safety during transport, and allows for efficient sharpening without manual orientation, while being easy to produce and clean.
Implementation Method 1
the sheath comprising biasing means acting on the arm to bring the receiving device of the cutting edge of the blade towards the locking element
Data Source
AI summary
A combination of a sharpening sheath and a knife comprising a blade intended to be stored in the sheath, wherein the sheath comprises a cavity intended to receive the blade and an access opening at one of the ends of the cavity, the sheath comprising, in the lower part thereof, a device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade, characterized in that the sheath comprises, in the upper part thereof, a locking element cooperating with a safety element provided on the back of the blade in order to longitudinally immobilize the knife in the sheath and in that the device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade is borne by an arm rotatably mounted in the sheath, the sheath comprising biasing means acting on the arm to bring the receiving device of the cutting edge of the blade towards the locking element.