Hunting Knife Integrated Tick Extraction Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tick removal methods, such as tweezers, often leave the tick's mouth in the skin, risking infection and fail to accommodate ticks of varying sizes, while also being inconvenient for outdoor use.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional hunting or survival knife with a tick extraction device housed in the handle, featuring interchangeable slots for different tick sizes, allowing safe removal without compression and easy storage and retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional tweezers are used for tick removal, then the device is simple and easy to carry, but the tick's rostrum often remains embedded in the skin and the tick body may be compressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplete tick removalVSAvoidproper gripping technique
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tick removal device is segmented into multiple functional components: a V-shaped slot for gripping the tick body, a curved edge for severing the rostrum, and a notched tip for extracting the rostrum. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, ensuring complete removal without requiring complex user technique.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device introduces an intermediary structure (the V-shaped slot with curved edge and notched tip) that mediates between the user's gripping action and the tick's body. This intermediary structure guides the user's actions and ensures proper mechanical interaction with the tick, eliminating the need for specialized technique.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If tweezers with small opening are used to grip small ticks, then the gripping precision is improved, but the tick body is compressed increasing infection risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip accuracyVSAvoidtick compression
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The V-shaped slot provides a localized gripping area with specific geometry (angle and depth) that matches the tick's body shape. This local quality ensures accurate positioning of the tick within the slot without requiring the entire tweezer opening to be small, thus avoiding compression while maintaining grip precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single-slot tick remover is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate ticks of different sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetick size adaptationVSAvoidmultiple slots configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates multiple V-shaped slots with different dimensions within a single tool head, allowing one device to serve multiple functions for different tick sizes. This multi-functionality approach maintains relative simplicity while achieving adaptability across various tick species and sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If tick removal device is carried separately outdoors, then the functionality is available, but the risk of losing the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutdoor functionalityVSAvoiddevice retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tick removal device is merged with a knife by integrating it into the knife handle, creating a single unified tool. This combination ensures that the tick removal functionality is always available when the knife is present, eliminating the risk of losing a separate tick remover while outdoors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4108191B1Hunting or survival knife provided with a device for extracting ticks
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 OPINEL
  • EP4108191B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4108191B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4108191B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Hunting knife (100) comprising a handle (2) and a tick removal device (3) for removing a tick from the skin, the tick removal device (3) being housed in the handle (2), being movable between a storage position in which the tick removal device (3) is housed inside the handle (2) and a use position in which the tick removal device (3) extends out of the handle (2), the tick removal device (3) comprising an end portion (4) on which are juxtaposed: a first tick removal member (5) comprising a first slot (7) configured to grip a tick of a first size for removal, a second tick removal member (6) comprising a second slot (8) configured to grip a tick of a second size for removal,such that the first and second tick removal organs are capable of removing ticks of different sizes.