Carabiner Gate Lock With Retractable Finger for Secure Closure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carabiners with automatic locking mechanisms can accidentally open when under load, preventing secure closure of the gate, especially when the locking finger is in the open position.
Innovation Solution
A carabiner design featuring a retractable active part of the locking finger that retracts upon contact with a locking member during the closing motion, ensuring the gate can be fully closed even when the locking mechanism is active, combined with a secondary locking mechanism for additional security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an automatic locking mechanism is activated under load, then the gate is secured against accidental opening, but the locking finger cannot be closed when the locking member is in the active position
Solution Approach 1:
The active part of the locking finger is made retractable, allowing it to dynamically change its position. When the locking member is in the active position, the active part can retract to clear the locking stop, enabling the gate to close. Once closed, the active part returns to its non-retracted position to engage with the locking stop and secure the gate, preventing accidental opening.
2Reliability
If the locking finger is designed to remain closed under all circumstances, then gate security is maintained, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The locking finger is segmented into a fixed part and a retractable active part. This segmentation allows the active part to independently retract when needed, clearing the path for gate closure while the fixed part remains stationary. The segmentation enables the gate to close even when the locking member is active, without requiring a completely complex additional mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If a retractable active part is added to the locking finger, then gate closing is enabled under all circumstances, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable active part is equipped with a return mechanism (such as a spring) that automatically returns it to its non-retracted position after retraction. This self-service feature eliminates the need for additional actuation mechanisms to reset the active part, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to close the gate under all circumstances.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Carabiner (1) comprising an open ring body (2) having an access opening (4) into the inside of said body (2), an articulated closing gate (3) of said opening (4), a locking member (6) of the closing gate (3) in the closed position, activable by pressure exerted on said locking member (6) from the inside of said body (2) towards the outside of said body (2), this locking member (6) forming in the active position a locking stop (7) of the closing gate (3) against which an active part (8) of the closing gate (3) abuts during a movement of the closing gate (3) from the closed position to the open position of the access opening.The active part (8) of the closing finger (3) is, in the active position of the locking member (6), a retractable part (8) which can be erased by contact with the locking member (6), when the closing finger (3) passes from the open position to the closed position of the closing finger (3).