Skate Blade Holder Tool for Safe Sharpening Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of sharpening loose skate blades is exacerbated by their short height and lack of grasping area, leading to difficulties in safe and accurate loading into sharpening systems, particularly in automated vertical mount configurations, where fingers can be pinched and the blade may be dropped or improperly positioned, affecting the quality of sharpening.
Innovation Solution
A blade holder tool with a universal design that securely holds skate blades of various sizes, featuring a flex beam configuration or pivoting members with spring bias, providing a safe and accurate means to load and orient the blade for sharpening, including alignment features and safety interlocks to prevent accidental contact with moving parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user directly loads a loose skate blade into the clamp of a sharpening system, then the sharpening operation can be performed, but the user may pinch or injure fingers and the blade may be dropped or improperly positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blade loading tool as an intermediary device between the user and the sharpening system clamp. This tool features a blade-retaining structure that securely holds the loose skate blade, allowing the user to manipulate the tool rather than directly handling the blade near the clamp jaws. The tool acts as a mediator that transfers the blade to the clamp safely, eliminating direct finger exposure to pinching hazards while maintaining precise positioning capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the clamp jaws are recessed below the upper slotted surface to create a protective enclosure, then safety is improved, but the user's fingers interfere with lowering the blade into the clamp
Solution Approach 1:
The blade loading tool serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the user's fingers and the recessed clamp jaws. The tool extends the user's reach, allowing them to lower the blade into the enclosed clamp space without their fingers entering the hazardous zone. The tool's design enables it to navigate the protective enclosure structure while maintaining secure blade holding, thus preserving both safety and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes vertical dimension by designing the loading tool with a profile that fits through the slot opening and delivers the blade vertically into the recessed clamp. This dimensional approach allows the tool to access the enclosed clamp space from above through the slot, bypassing the lateral interference problem that would affect direct finger insertion. The vertical delivery path enables safe loading into the protected enclosure.
3Device complexity
If there is no vertical stop structure for the blade during insertion, then the clamp design is simpler, but the blade may be dropped into the enclosure requiring disassembly to retrieve
Solution Approach 1:
The blade loading tool performs preliminary positioning action by incorporating a vertical stop feature that prevents the blade from being inserted too far into the clamp during the loading process. This preliminary stop mechanism ensures the blade is retained at the correct position before final clamping occurs, eliminating the risk of the blade being dropped into the enclosure. The stop feature is integrated into the tool itself rather than requiring permanent modification to the clamp structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a universal blade holder tool is designed to work with skate blades of various sizes, then versatility is improved, but the tool must accommodate different blade dimensions within a single design
Solution Approach 1:
The blade loading tool is designed with universal features including an adjustable blade-retaining structure that can accommodate different blade thicknesses and lengths. The tool incorporates size-adjustment mechanisms such as movable retaining walls or adjustable clamping surfaces that can be configured for various blade dimensions. This multi-functional design allows a single tool to serve all blade sizes without requiring multiple specialized tools, achieving versatility while maintaining reasonable design simplicity through standardized adjustment mechanisms.
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 blade holder tool enables secure, accurate, and safe loading of loose skate blades into sharpening systems, minimizing the risk of injury and ensuring proper positioning for effective sharpening, thus improving the quality and accessibility of the sharpening process.
Implementation Method 1
pivoting members with spring bias
Implementation Method 2
spring bias providing a safe and accurate means to load and orient the blade
Data Source
AI summary
A blade holder tool is disclosed for a user to hold a skate blade and insert the skate blade into a sharpener unit for a sharpening operation. The blade holder tool includes an upper portion graspable by a user to hold the blade holder tool and place the blade holder tool in an inserted position in the sharpener unit. It further includes a lower blade-engaging portion that grasps the skate blade and locates the skate blade in a sharpening position in the sharpener unit.