Welded Stainless Steel Hand Tool Handle for Multi-Point Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hand tools, such as putty knives and taping knives, often have uncomfortable, weak, and non-sterilizable plastic or rubber handles that are prone to breaking, and fully metal tools lack sufficient durability due to a single point of connection between the blade and handle.
Innovation Solution
A durable, all-metal hand tool constructed from stainless steel with a blade piece connected to a handle composed of two welded, symmetrical handle halves, featuring an elongated tang and additional stainless steel guide pieces for enhanced strength, and a curved distal end for improved force displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If plastic or rubber handles are used, then comfort and ease of operation are improved, but strength and reliability deteriorate due to susceptibility to breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two different materials (metal and plastic/rubber) into a composite handle structure. The metal core provides strength and durability, while the plastic/rubber outer layer provides comfort and ease of operation. This composite construction allows both materials to contribute their advantageous properties to the final product, resolving the contradiction between comfort and strength.
2Ease of operation
If plastic or rubber handles are used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to contamination and inability to sterilize
Solution Approach 1:
The composite handle structure with a metal core enables sterilization capability while maintaining the comfort benefits of plastic/rubber coating. The metal core can be sterilized through autoclaving or other sterilization methods, making the tool suitable for medical and food industry applications, while the outer layer continues to provide ergonomic comfort.
3Device complexity
If a single point connection (rivet or small weld) is used between blade and handle, then device complexity is reduced, but strength and reliability deteriorate due to proneness to breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection between blade and handle into multiple points rather than using a single connection point. The handle is divided into multiple sections with individual connection points distributed along its length. This segmentation distributes the mechanical stress across multiple locations, preventing failure at any single point and significantly improving overall durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point (zero-dimensional) connection to a multi-point (distributed) connection system. By adding spatial distribution across multiple locations along the handle, the connection structure gains dimensional complexity that directly translates to improved strength and reliability without excessive overall device complexity.
4Strength
If fully metal construction is used, then strength and reliability are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material construction where a metal core provides the necessary strength and durability, while an outer plastic or rubber layer provides ergonomic comfort and ease of operation. This composite approach allows the tool to have both the robustness of metal and the comfort of softer materials, eliminating the need to choose between strength and comfort.
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 solution provides a strong, comfortable, and sterilizable hand tool with multiple points of connection between the blade and handle, enhancing durability and preventing breakage, suitable for scraping, spreading, cutting, and flipping applications.
Implementation Method 1
the handle is composed of two welded together, symmetrical, stainless steel handle half pieces
Data Source
AI summary
A metal hand tool including a handle attached to a blade piece and method of construction. The blade piece includes a blade opposite an elongated tang. The handle is made up of two, welded, symmetrical handle halves, each handle half having an opening for receiving a hang hole piece and a notched distal end for forming a handle opening to receive the blade piece elongated tang. In an embodiment, the handle includes a curved distal end accommodating a curved welded connection between the blade piece and the handle. The hand tool further includes a hang hole piece configured for placement through the hang hole openings in the handle and for welded connection to the handle. In an embodiment, the elongated tang includes a hang hole opening through which the hang hole extends. Some embodiments further include one or more tang guide pieces welded to the interior of the handle.