Carabiner Lock Actuation for Easy Opening Without Accidental Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carabiners with safety locks are cumbersome to operate due to the need for manual manipulation of the locking bolt and cover element, often requiring simultaneous actions that can be difficult with small carabiners, leading to potential unintentional opening during use.
Innovation Solution
A carabiner device with an actuating device that separates the locking and opening functions, allowing operation through an actuating mechanism that interacts with the locking bolt, featuring a deformable cover element and a button-activated safety device to prevent unintentional opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the carabiner is made small for weight reasons, then the weight is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome manual manipulation of the locking bolt and cover element
Solution Approach 1:
The carabiner device is segmented into distinct functional components: a cover element that can be independently actuated to release the locking bolt, and the locking mechanism itself. This segmentation allows the small carabiner body to maintain simple operation by separating the cover actuation function from the locking bolt manipulation, enabling users to open the carabiner with a single action rather than coordinated manual manipulation of multiple small parts.
2Device complexity
If manual finger manipulation is required to operate the locking bolt and cover element, then the device structure remains simple, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential unintentional opening
Solution Approach 1:
An actuating device serves as an intermediary between the user and the locking mechanism. This actuating device includes a cover element that, when actuated, releases the locking bolt in a controlled manner. The intermediary mechanism prevents direct finger manipulation of the locking bolt, thereby eliminating the risk of unintentional opening while maintaining a relatively simple device structure without requiring complex safety systems.
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
Enables easy and reliable operation of the carabiner without manual finger manipulation, ensuring secure attachment of safety lines by allowing the user to distinguish between releasing and actuating the locking mechanism, thus preventing accidental openings.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (23) which bears against the inside of the carabiner shackle (21) and has a self-closing function
Implementation Method 2
The safety device can comprise a preferably elastically deformable base element, preferably in the form of a sleeve or at least a partial sheathing of the carabiner element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention provides a carabiner device (1) comprising a carabiner element (2) with a carabiner shackle (21) and a lock (24) with a locking bolt (23) movable relative to the carabiner shackle (21), the actuation of which opens the carabiner (1). According to the invention, the carabiner device (1) has an actuating device that is operatively connected to the locking bolt (23) and, when actuated, transmits a force to the locking bolt (23) to open the carabiner (1).