Thumb Stud Tritium Vial Encapsulation via Nested Lenses
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Solution Overview
Problem
The incorporation of tritium vials into thumb studs of folding knife assemblies poses challenges due to their susceptibility to damage and regulatory requirements for protection from breakage, necessitating innovative solutions that ensure safety and functionality while providing luminary benefits.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates tritium vials within a hollow passage of a thumb stud body, protected by lenses and a bonding material, which secures and encapsulates the vials, allowing illumination while minimizing exposure to environmental impacts and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If tritium vials are incorporated into thumb studs to provide luminary benefits, then illumination capability is improved, but susceptibility to damage and breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thumb stud is divided into multiple components: a body portion, a tritium vial, a lens, and bonding material. The tritium vial is segmented from the main body and placed within a dedicated hollow passage, isolating it from direct external impacts while maintaining its illumination function.
Solution Approach 2:
The tritium vial is nested within the hollow passage of the thumb stud body, and the lens is nested within the same passage to encapsulate the vial. This nested arrangement protects the fragile vial by embedding it within the structural components of the thumb stud.
Solution Approach 3:
The lens serves as an intermediary element between the tritium vial and the external environment. It allows light to pass through while providing a protective barrier that shields the vial from direct impacts and environmental damage.
2Reliability
If tritium vials are protected within hollow passages and encapsulated by lenses and bonding material, then reliability and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow passage serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the thumb stud, contains and protects the tritium vial, and houses the lens for light transmission. The lens simultaneously protects the vial and transmits illumination, reducing the need for additional protective components.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective functions are merged into the existing structural elements of the thumb stud. The body's hollow passage is used for both structural and protective purposes, and the lens is integrated into the same passage to provide both protection and light transmission, eliminating the need for separate protective housings.
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
This solution effectively protects tritium vials from damage and breakage, providing consistent illumination and meeting regulatory standards, thereby enhancing both the functionality and safety of the thumb stud.
Implementation Method 1
Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen which can be used as a luminary device
Implementation Method 2
a first lens is disposed within the hollow passage adjacent the first end and a second lens is disposed within the hollow passage adjacent the second end to encapsulate the tritium vial within the hollow passage of the body. The first and second lenses protect the tritium vial and also allow illumination produced by the tritium vial to be viewable through the first and second lenses
Data Source
AI summary
A thumb stud for a folding knife assembly includes a body extending between a first end and a second end. A hollow passage extends between the ends, and a tritium vial is disposed within the hollow passage and extends between the first and second ends. A first lens is disposed within the hollow passage adjacent the first end and a second lens is disposed within the hollow passage adjacent the second end. The first and second lenses encapsulate the tritium vial within the hollow passage of the body and allow illumination produced by the tritium vial to be viewable through the first and second lenses to illuminate the thumb stud. In an alternative arrangement, the tritium vial can be replaced with a wafer which houses the tritium vial. In this arrangement, a pair of wafers are each disposed adjacent respective lenses at respective ends of the body.