Telescopic Utility Knife Handle for Compact Storage and Extended Cutting
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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 an 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, then the utility and comfort of use is improved, but the knife becomes large and cumbersome when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The blade holder is made telescopic, allowing it to dynamically change length between retracted and extended positions. When retracted, the handle remains compact for easy carrying. When extended, the handle becomes long enough to provide comfortable gripping distance and sufficient leverage during cutting operations. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between compact storage and comfortable use.
2Productivity
If the blade holder is extended to provide sufficient cutting edge exposure, then the cutting performance is improved, but the overall knife length increases making it cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic blade holder enables the knife to dynamically adjust its effective length. During cutting operations, the blade holder extends to expose sufficient cutting edge (at least 1 inch) for effective cutting performance. When not in use, the blade holder retracts to minimize overall knife length, making it compact and easy to carry. This dynamic transformation allows the knife to optimize for cutting performance only when needed.
3Volume of moving object
If the blade holder is made compact when retracted, then portability is improved, but the cutting edge exposure may be insufficient when extended
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic mechanism allows the blade holder to compress into a compact form (retracted volume less than 4.5 inches) for portability, then extend significantly (at least 15% longer, preferably at least 20% or 25% longer) to provide sufficient cutting edge exposure (at least 1 inch). This dynamic volume-to-length transformation resolves the contradiction between compact storage and adequate cutting edge exposure.
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.