Safety Utility Blade With Gripping Tab And Segmented Edges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility knives, especially those with standard razor blades, pose a significant risk of injury due to inadvertent contact with cutting edges during blade removal, insertion, and handling, particularly when double or single-edge blades without gripping tabs are used.
Innovation Solution
A safety utility knife assembly featuring a handle with a blade retainer and a replaceable safety blade that includes a blade tab and a blade securing aperture, where the cutting edge extends perpendicular to the handle's axis, and a blade release mechanism to minimize user exposure to cutting edges, allowing for secure engagement and easy removal of the blade.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a standard razor blade is used in a utility knife, then cutting performance is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to increased risk of injury from inadvertent contact with cutting edges
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is segmented into two separate cutting edges on opposite sides, allowing the user to flip the blade and use the second edge when the first becomes dull. This segmentation maintains continuous cutting performance while reducing safety risks by allowing safe disposal of dull edges.
Solution Approach 2:
A blade retainer mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user and the cutting edge. This mechanism securely holds the blade during use, preventing inadvertent contact and injury while allowing controlled access to the cutting edge for cutting operations.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a double edge razor blade without a gripping tab is used, then blade durability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates during blade removal and insertion
Solution Approach 1:
A gripping tab is preliminarily attached to one end of the blade, providing a pre-prepared means for easy handling during insertion and removal operations. This preliminary addition does not affect blade durability but significantly improves ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping tab serves as an intermediary element between the user's fingers and the blade, enabling safe and easy manipulation of the blade during insertion and removal without requiring direct contact with the dangerous cutting edges.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a blade retainer mechanism is added to limit exposure to cutting edges, then user safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade retainer is segmented into discrete components that can be independently manufactured and assembled, simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining the safety function of limiting exposure to cutting edges.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to safety blades for use in utility knives, related assemblies and methods of manufacturing. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to safety blades for use in utility knives, related assemblies and methods of manufacture which limit user exposure to associated cutting edges.