Auto-Locking Sliding-Gate Fastener Against Unintentional Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auto-locking gated fasteners require separate manual actions for latching, which can lead to unintentional release, necessitating a higher level of security to prevent such incidents.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a body with a recess and a sliding gate urged by resilient means, paired with self-closing latches on opposing sides that require three independent actions for release, ensuring automatic locking and protection against unintentional release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate manual action is required to place the gate in its latched closed state, then the fastener can be operated manually, but the protection against unintentional release is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The gate is automatically latched into the closed state upon closure without requiring a separate manual latching action. The resilient means automatically engages the gate with the latches, performing the latching action preliminarily and automatically, thus improving reliability against unintentional release while maintaining ease of operation.
2Reliability
If multiple independent actions are required for release, then protection against unintentional release is improved, but the complexity of the release operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is segmented into two independent latches that must both be actuated for release. This segmentation provides reliability against unintentional release while keeping the device complexity manageable through the use of simple, independent latch components rather than a complex integrated system.
3Reliability
If self-closing latches are used to hold the gate in the closed position, then automatic locking is achieved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient means is merged with the latching mechanism to provide both the closing force and the latching action in a single integrated system. This combining of functions achieves automatic locking while minimizing the number of separate components, as the resilient means serves dual purposes of urging the gate closed and enabling the self-closing latches.
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 fastener effectively secures members with automatic locking and three independent release actions, enhancing protection against unintentional release by eliminating the need for separate manual actions during latching.
Implementation Method 1
resilient means engaging the gate and the shank to urge the gate to the closed position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
A fastener (10) for releasably securing a member comprises a body (11) including a shank (13) and a recess (12), the recess (12) configured for receiving the member. A gate (21) is mounted to slide axially on the shank (13) between a closed position closing a mouth of the recess (12) for retaining the member, and an open position. Resilient means engaging the gate (21) and the shank (13) to urge the gate (21) to the closed position, and latches (24) mounted on opposing sides of the gate (21), wherein each latch is self-closing and engages the body for holding the gate in the closed position providing an auto-locking fasteners that for greater security requires three independent actions for release.