Trapezoidal Utility Blade with Score Lines for Four Cutting Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional utility knife blades with trapezoidal shapes dull quickly, leading to increased waste and costs due to the lack of additional cutting points, and existing snap-off style blades require specialized holders, limiting their compatibility with standard utility knives.
Innovation Solution
A utility knife blade with a trapezoidal configuration and score lines that allow for multiple cutting segments to be snapped off, providing four usable cutting points, compatible with both retractable and fixed blade utility knives, and featuring indexing notches for consistent blade extension and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional trapezoidal utility blades are used, then the blade can be used with standard utility knives, but the blade dulls quickly and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is divided into multiple cutting segments separated by score lines, allowing individual segments to be snapped off and replaced independently. This segmentation enables the blade to provide multiple cutting points (up to four) from a single blade body, extending blade life and reducing material waste from frequent blade replacements
2Duration of action of moving object
If snap-off style utility blades with multiple segments are used, then blade life is extended, but specialized blade holders are required
Solution Approach 1:
The blade design incorporates score lines and segment structure that can function with both conventional trapezoidal blade holders and specialized snap-off style holders. The blade maintains universal compatibility across different utility knife types while still providing extended blade life through multiple snap-off segments
3Loss of substance
If manual snapping of dulled points is attempted to save costs, then blade replacement frequency is reduced, but safety hazards increase due to blade shattering
Solution Approach 1:
Score lines are pre-formed weak points in the blade structure that guide controlled fracture. By preparing these score lines in advance during blade manufacturing, the blade is designed to snap cleanly at predetermined locations rather than shatter unpredictably, eliminating safety hazards while enabling cost-effective blade renewal
4Device complexity
If conventional trapezoidal blades are used, then the blade structure is simple, but only two cutting points are available
Solution Approach 1:
The blade structure incorporates score lines that create separable segments, transforming a simple two-point blade into a multi-segment blade with up to four cutting points. This segmentation adds controlled complexity to the blade structure while significantly extending the number of usable cutting points
Data Source
AI summary
A utility blade for use with conventional retractable and fixed blade utility knives comprising a blade body having a generally trapezoidal configuration defined by a cutting edge, an opposite back edge, a pair of opposing side edges and a pair of cutting points defined by the points of intersection between the side edges and the cutting edge. The blade further defines a pair of score lines, each proximate to one of the side edges. The score lines enable the user to remove a dulled or damaged cutting point, which in turn provides the user with two additional cutting points defined by the points of intersection between the score lines and the cutting edge. Further, the blade is configured with one or more notches strategically located on the back edge of the blade, such that each cutting point can extend from the utility knife at approximately the same distance.