Removable Knife Handle Coupling for Food Scraping Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for scraping, cutting, or grating food products, such as the Chanterelle, face issues with handle durability and ergonomics, leading to excessive wear and the need for frequent replacement, especially when exposed to dishwasher conditions.
Innovation Solution
A device with a knife handle mounted via a coupling element that allows for easy disassembly and reassembly, featuring elastically deformable portions for secure retention within a housing, facilitating cleaning and extending the knife's lifespan, while maintaining ergonomic quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the knife handle is made of wood and permanently mounted, then the knife offers good ergonomics and quality, but repeated cleaning leads to excessive wear and deterioration of the handle
Solution Approach 1:
The knife is divided into separable components: the blade and the handle are no longer permanently fused but can be detached through a coupling mechanism. This segmentation allows the handle to be removed from dishwasher exposure while maintaining the knife's functional integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is extracted from the dishwasher environment by providing a removable coupling mechanism. The handle can be taken out from the dishwasher and only exposed to moisture during brief cleaning moments, significantly reducing wear and deterioration compared to permanent mounting.
2Ease of manufacture
If the knife handle is made of plastic to facilitate cleaning, then the knife can be put in the dishwasher, but ergonomics and perceived quality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The knife is divided into separable components: the blade and the handle are no longer permanently fused but can be detached through a coupling mechanism. This segmentation allows the handle to be removed from dishwasher exposure while maintaining the knife's functional integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily removed and replaced. Rather than making the entire knife dishwasher-safe, the handle can be quickly swapped if worn, providing a practical solution that maintains cleaning ease while preserving quality through selective replacement rather than material compromise.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the knife handle is permanently mounted on the offset axis, then the knife structure is stable, but repeated disassembly and reassembly is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling element acts as an intermediary component between the handle and the offset axis. This intermediary mechanism provides a stable connection during use while enabling easy disassembly and reassembly through simple manual manipulation, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of repair.
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
The solution ensures easy cleaning and prolonged knife life, improving ergonomics and reducing wear, thus enhancing user experience and device longevity.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling element is mechanically retained inside the housing and includes at least a first elastically or plastically deformable portion intended to cooperate with the handle housing and acting as a retaining element in the housing
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (1) for scraping, cutting, or grating food products (50) is described, comprising a tray (10) configured to receive the food product (50), and a knife (15), preferably removable, mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation passing through the center of the food product (50) so as to cooperate with an upper face (50A) of the food product (50) placed on the tray (10). The knife (15) is provided with a handle (20) mounted for rotation on an offset axis (15c) of the knife (15), which offset axis (15c) is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the knife (15). The handle (20) is mounted on the offset axis (15c) by means of a coupling element (30; 30*) inserted into a housing (20A) formed in the handle (20).This coupling element (30; 30*) has an internal housing (300A; 300A*) sized to receive one end of the offset shaft (15c) and to allow the handle (20) to be rotated onto the offset shaft (15c). The coupling element (30; 30*) is configured to allow repeated removal and reinstallation of the handle (20) on the offset shaft (15c).