Circuit Breaker Panel Safe with Combination Switch Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively hide a safe or storage compartment 'in plain sight' by leveraging the common exposure and built-in deterrents of circuit breaker panels, which are often overlooked by potential thieves.
Innovation Solution
A combination switch and sliding bolt lock system is integrated into a cover that resembles a circuit breaker panel, where the faux switches and sliding bolts are connected to lock the safe, requiring a specific combination to unlock, mimicking the appearance and functionality of a circuit breaker panel while providing hidden security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a safe is concealed behind common objects like pictures or furniture, then the safe is hidden from view, but the hiding method is easily discovered by potential thieves
Solution Approach 1:
The safe cover is designed to exactly replicate the appearance of a circuit breaker panel, complete with faux switches that mimic real breakers. This copying of a utilitarian object that is deliberately left exposed creates effective concealment while maintaining security, as thieves do not suspect circuit breaker panels of hiding valuables
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a circuit breaker panel design is used for the safe cover, then the safe is concealed in plain sight, but the locking mechanism must remain hidden behind the cover
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is nested within the circuit breaker panel cover structure. The faux switches are mounted on the front face of the cover while the actual locking bolts are concealed behind the cover, with the switching mechanism extending through the aperture to connect both visible and hidden portions. This nesting allows the locking function to be integrated into the disguise without compromising security
3Reliability
If multiple faux switches are used to create a combination lock, then password protection is provided, but the complexity of the switch combination system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The faux switches serve dual functions: they maintain the visual disguise of a circuit breaker panel and simultaneously function as a combination locking mechanism. Each switch can be positioned in different states (on/off, up/down) to create various combinations, providing password protection while using simple, familiar components that do not add mechanical complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A combination faux switch and sliding bolt lock includes one or more imitation switches mounted on a cover to an enclosure, the cover and switches resembling a circuit breaker panel, each switch lock having a toggle arm including a back portion disposed in the enclosure behind the cover, manipulation of the toggle arm moving the back portion between first and second positions, the back portion slidably attached to a bolt one end of which is received in an aperture in the side walls of the enclosure locking the cover to the enclosure. One embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of combination faux switches and sliding bolts such that a locking combination may consist of any combination of the switches appearing to be in “off” or “on” positions.