Rotating Locking Device for Ice Skate Blade Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice skate blade holder devices do not facilitate easy, fast, and safe exchange of ice skate blades.
Innovation Solution
A blade holder device with a pivot bearing device and a locking mechanism that allows for rotational movement, enabling easy mounting and removal of ice skate blades without direct hand contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional blade holder device is used, then the ice skate blade can be mounted and secured, but the exchange of blades is difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis, transforming a static locking mechanism into a dynamic one that can be operated through rotation. This rotational capability enables quick engagement and disengagement of the blade without complex manual manipulation, directly improving blade exchange speed and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's manual input and the blade securing/releasing action. By rotating the locking device, the user indirectly controls the engagement state of the blade through the interaction between the locking device and the blade's hooks, simplifying the operation to a single rotational motion
2Reliability
If a simple locking mechanism is used, then the blade can be secured, but safety and secure engagement are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is segmented into distinct functional elements: a locking element with a locking surface that engages with the blade, and a rotatable body that enables operation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall simplicity and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex multi-component mechanical locking systems with a simpler rotational mechanism. The locking device uses rotational movement about a longitudinal axis to engage and disengage the blade, substituting what would otherwise require multiple linear actuators, springs, and latches with a single rotational component that provides secure engagement
3Ease of operation
If direct hand contact with the blade is required, then the mounting process is straightforward, but the risk of accidental rotation and injury is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device serves as an intermediary tool that the user rotates to control blade engagement, eliminating the need for direct hand contact with the blade itself. The rotational operation of the locking device translates to precise control over the blade's engagement state while keeping the user's hands at a safe distance from the sharp blade edges
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is designed to be self-operating through rotation about a longitudinal axis. Once initiated, the rotational movement automatically completes the engagement or disengagement sequence without requiring continuous manual adjustment or direct manipulation of the blade, reducing the risk of accidental rotation and injury
Data Source
AI summary
Blade holder device which extends along a longitudinal axis (L12) and which comprises a blade holder and a locking device which is mounted within said blade holder in a manner that the locking device is rotatable about a locking device axis (B), wherein the rotatable locking device is configured to mount a hook of an ice skate blade to the blade holder and comprises at least one radial irregularity with respect to the device axis (B) for interaction between the radial irregularity and a hook of an ice skate blade.