Telescopic Utility Knife Blade Holder Extension Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional utility knives are large and cumbersome due to their length, making them difficult to carry when not in use but uncomfortable to use when extended.
Innovation Solution
A compact utility knife design featuring a handle and blade holder that slide telescopically, allowing the blade holder to extend forwardly by at least 1 inch in the extended position, with a retracted length of less than 4.5 inches and an extended length at least 15% longer, incorporating a slide lock mechanism and blade lock for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle is made long to provide sufficient leverage and comfortable gripping distance from the cutting edge, then the utility knife is comfortable to use, but the knife becomes large and cumbersome when not being used
Solution Approach 1:
The blade holder is made movable relative to the handle, allowing it to extend forwardly when needed for cutting operations and retract when not in use. This dynamic configuration enables the knife to transition between a compact storage state and an extended operational state, resolving the contradiction between portability and usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade holder is disposed within the handle in a retracted position, nesting the blade holder inside the handle structure. When extension is needed, the blade holder slides forward out of the handle. This nesting arrangement allows the knife to maintain a compact overall length while providing extended blade exposure during use.
2Ease of operation
If the blade holder extends forwardly of the handle when in the extended position, then the cutting edge is comfortably positioned for use, but the overall knife length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade holder transitions from a static to a dynamic component, sliding forwardly relative to the handle when extension is required. This allows the cutting edge to be positioned optimally for cutting operations while maintaining a compact overall knife length when the blade holder is retracted.
Solution Approach 2:
The knife is divided into separate functional segments: the handle and the blade holder. The blade holder can independently extend or retract relative to the handle, allowing the cutting edge to be positioned for comfortable use without permanently increasing the overall knife length.
Data Source
AI summary
A compact utility knife includes a blade holder slidably connected to a handle. A trapezoidal utility blade detachably mounts to the blade holder via a blade lock mechanism. A slide lock mechanism selectively retains the blade holder in its extended or retracted position relative to the handle. When the blade holder is extended, the blade holder and a majority of the blade extend forwardly of a forwardmost point of the handle. Extending the blade holder significantly increases an overall length of the knife such that the knife is comfortable to use when in the extended position and longitudinally compact when in the retracted position. The knife includes a blade lock mechanism. An aperture in the front of the handle creates a gap between the blade and the handle to discourage debris on the blade from transferring to the handle when the blade is retracted.