Safety Utility Blade Assembly for Safer Blade Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Utility knives often cause injuries due to inadvertent contact with cutting edges, especially when handling or replacing blades, as standard razor blades lack adequate safety features to prevent exposure to sharp edges.

Innovation Solution

A safety utility knife assembly with a replaceable safety blade featuring a blade tab and securing aperture, along with a blade retainer and release mechanism, which limits user exposure to cutting edges and allows for easy blade replacement, and manufacturing methods involving blade material formation and sharpening processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If standard razor blades are used in utility knives, then cutting performance is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to inadvertent contact with cutting edges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting performanceVSAvoiduser injury from cutting edge exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is divided into a cutting portion and a tab portion, with the tab serving as a safe gripping area that separates the user's fingers from the sharp cutting edge during handling and installation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade retainer mechanism acts as an intermediary device that secures the blade in place during operation and provides controlled access during blade changes, preventing direct exposure to the cutting edge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If double edge razor blades are used, then blade replacement flexibility is improved, but safety deteriorates due to increased exposure risk during removal and insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade replacement flexibilityVSAvoidinjury risk during blade handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is pre-oriented with the tab extending in a specific direction, guiding the user's fingers to the safe gripping area before contact with the cutting edge is necessary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The blade is designed as a disposable component with a tab that facilitates safe installation and removal, allowing for easy replacement without requiring complex retrieval mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Device complexity

If single edge razor blades without gripping tabs are used, then blade simplicity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in safe handling and replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade structure simplicityVSAvoidsafe blade handling and replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is segmented into a cutting portion and a tab portion, adding minimal structural complexity while dramatically improving safety and ease of handling during blade replacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tab portion has different properties than the cutting portion - it is non-sharp and designed for gripping, providing localized functionality that enhances safety without affecting the cutting performance of the blade edge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11904486B2Safety utility blades, assemblies and methods of manufacturing

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 KUTTER KLEVER LLC

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.