Safety Locking Mechanism for Expandable Baton
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elastically expandable batons are prone to accidental activation, leading to unintended expansion and potential harm to the user or others due to the likelihood of the release key being pressed inadvertently.
Innovation Solution
A safety locking mechanism is introduced, featuring a positioning portion, a locking-releasing button, and a safety locking key. The safety locking key is bidirectionally slidable in the slide groove of the locking-releasing button, allowing it to lock the button in a stable state when not in use and unlock it for immediate activation during emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a release key is provided for quick expansion of the baton, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to accidental activation
Solution Approach 1:
A safety locking key is introduced as an intermediary component between the user and the release key. This mediator must be actively manipulated (rotated or pressed) to enable the release key's function, creating an additional control layer that prevents accidental activation while preserving quick deployment when intentionally activated
2Speed
If the baton is designed to expand elastically with stored energy, then the speed of expansion is improved, but the harmful factors increase due to unintended activation causing harm to user or others
Solution Approach 1:
The safety locking mechanism applies preliminary anti-action by pre-blocking the release key's function through a locked state. The locking key must be actively disengaged before the release key can function, creating a preliminary protective action that counteracts the potential harmful effect of accidental activation while allowing rapid expansion when properly initiated
3Reliability
If a safety locking mechanism is added to prevent accidental activation, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety locking key is merged with the existing release key structure, integrating the safety function into the already-present component rather than adding a completely separate locking mechanism. This consolidation reduces overall complexity while maintaining the dual-function capability of preventing accidental activation and enabling rapid deployment
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 safety locking mechanism effectively prevents accidental activation of the elastically expandable baton, ensuring it remains in a safe short-baton state until intentionally expanded, thereby enhancing user safety and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring (24), a spring mounting rod (25)... the elastic force acts entirely on the second end of the inner tube (22) or on the impact head (21), the impact head (21) will be displaced outward as soon as it is released, with the inner tube (22) and the middle tube (23) moving along with the impact head (21) and springing out of the outer tube (26)
Implementation Method 2
a locking-releasing button (29)... A central portion of the locking-releasing button (29) is pivotally connected to the positioning ring (28) through a pivot shaft (290), and each of the two ends of the locking-releasing button (29) forms one or the other of a locking hook (291) and a release key (292)... The locking-releasing button (29) will be moved like a lever and thereby move the locking hook (291) away from the position where the locking hook (291) engages with the engaging groove (210)
Data Source
AI summary
A safety locking mechanism is applicable to an elastically expandable baton including a plurality of hollow tubes that can be collapsed into a short baton or expanded into a long baton. The safety locking mechanism includes a positioning portion that can be fixed to one of the hollow tubes, a locking-releasing button pivotally connectable to the positioning portion, and a safety locking key arranged to the locking-releasing button. A user only needs to push the safety locking key with a finger and makes the safety locking key to be in a locking position, the locking-releasing button will not be able to move as a lever, thereby keeping the elastically expandable baton in the short-baton state.