Secateurs Locking Lever Assembly for Blade Angle Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manually operated cutting devices, such as secateurs, lack a user-friendly and straightforward mechanism for adjusting the opening angle of the cutting blades to accommodate different hand sizes and object diameters, leading to suboptimal handling and design complexity.
Innovation Solution
A manually operated cutting device with a locking lever assembly and stop pawl mechanism that restricts the opening angle to an intermediate position, allowing for easy adjustment of the cutting blades' range of motion using a single hand, featuring a slider with indexing positions and a cantilevered beam for secure locking and unlocking, enhancing operability and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a locking lever assembly with stop pawl and slider mechanism is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lever assembly incorporates a slider that can move between different positions (locked, unlocked, intermediate) to dynamically adjust the opening angle restrictions. This dynamic mechanism allows the cutting device to adapt to different operational requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of straightforward mechanical components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the opening angle is restricted to an intermediate position, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lever assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a stop pawl for engaging with the blade, a slider for position adjustment, and indexing positions for predefined opening angles. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, providing multiple adjustable opening angle positions while keeping the overall mechanism relatively simple and maintainable.
Data Source
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AI summary
The underlying invention in particular is related to manually operated secateurs (1) comprising at least one cutting blade (2, 3) pivotably secured at a pivot joint (6), comprising a locking lever assembly (8) operable to restrict the available opening angle of the cutting blade (2, 3) to an intermediate opening angle (a(i)) lying between the opening angles defined by the fully closed state and fully opened state of the blade (2, 3). The locking lever assembly (8) comprises a stop pawl (13) that is attached to a manually operable slider (9) associated with a linear slide (10), to be moveable into and out of the intermediate locking position (A) by a movement in lengthwise direction of the cutting device (1).