Concentric Dial Combination Locking Puzzle Gift Box
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a compact, cost-effective combination locking mechanism suitable for small items like gift cards and cash, as existing solutions are either too large or not designed for high-volume production with minimal parts.
Innovation Solution
A combination locking puzzle gift box with a drawer and three concentric dials, where the dials have cylindrical locking walls with breaks aligned with unlocking code indicia, allowing the drawer to be freely inserted or withdrawn when the code is correctly aligned, and locked when misaligned, utilizing a minimal number of parts and materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a combination locking mechanism is designed for small items like gift cards and cash, then the device size is reduced and it becomes suitable for compact enclosures, but the locking mechanism complexity increases to achieve reliable security in a thin profile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested concentric dials where smaller dials are positioned inside larger dials, allowing multiple combination selections within a compact radial space. This nesting arrangement enables complex locking functionality without increasing the overall device footprint, directly resolving the contradiction between small size and mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism transitions from linear arrangement to radial/concentric arrangement, utilizing the radial dimension for combination selection. The dials rotate in concentric circles with code indicia arranged radially around the perimeter, converting a potentially complex linear sequence into a compact radial pattern that fits within a small circular enclosure.
2Productivity
If a combination locking puzzle gift box is designed for high-volume production with minimal parts, then manufacturing cost decreases and production efficiency increases, but the number of unique parts is reduced which may limit customization options
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer component serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural container for the gift card, provides the locking interface through its locking rib, and enables the combination mechanism through interaction with the dials. This multi-functionality reduces the total part count while maintaining customization capability through the dial configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the drawer and cover into an integrated assembly where the drawer's locking rib directly interacts with the cover's dial mechanism. The code indicia are integrated into the dial structure itself rather than being separate components, reducing part count while allowing custom code configurations through different dial arrangements.
3Reliability
If a combination locking mechanism uses concentric dials with breaks aligned to code indicia, then the unlocking reliability increases through precise alignment, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper break alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer's locking rib features gaps that automatically align with the breaks in the dial locking walls when the correct combination is entered. The mechanical interaction between the rib gaps and dial breaks self-regulates the alignment, reducing the need for high-precision manufacturing while ensuring reliable unlocking when the code is correct.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking rib contains localized gaps at specific positions that correspond to the break locations on the dials. These localized features concentrate the alignment requirement to specific points rather than requiring uniform precision across the entire dial assembly, making manufacturing more feasible while maintaining unlocking reliability.
4Ease of operation
If the drawer is designed to be freely inserted or withdrawn when code is aligned, then ease of operation improves for legitimate users, but security decreases when the drawer can be easily removed from the cover assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism dynamically transitions between locked and unlocked states based on dial alignment. When codes are misaligned, the locking walls intersect with the locking rib to prevent drawer removal. When the correct code is entered, the breaks align with the gaps, dynamically changing the state to allow free drawer insertion and withdrawal, thus providing both security and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A combination locking puzzle gift box consisting of a drawer, a cover, and a plurality of dials. When an unlocking code word is positioned beneath a marker on the cover, the drawer maybe be freely inserted or withdrawn from the cover assembly. In a locked state, the unlocking code is rotated away from beneath the marker and the drawer is locked in place and may not be withdrawn from the cover, thereby securing an item held within.