Cord Lock with Mediator Cap and Self-Lubricating Slide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cord locks require significant effort to operate, often causing friction and noise, and can lead to jamming or damage to components due to uneven force distribution and biased sliding blocks.
Innovation Solution
A cord lock design featuring a base member with a horizontally extending passageway, a slide member made of self-lubricating material, an elastic member, and a cap with non-slip cones, allowing smooth and stable operation by moving the slide member between locking and unlocking positions without friction or noise, ensuring even pressure on cord members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sliding block is used to lock/unlock cord members, then the cord lock can be operated to secure cords, but the sliding block tends to be biased during operation causing unequal force distribution, leading to jamming or damage
Solution Approach 1:
A cap is introduced as an intermediary component between the user's hand and the sliding block. The cap includes a coupling shank that connects to the sliding block through a coupling hole, allowing the user to operate the sliding block without directly applying force. This intermediary structure distributes the operating force evenly and prevents biased movement of the sliding block, eliminating jamming while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the sliding block is moved directly by hand, then operation is simple, but significant effort is required and friction and noise occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cap serves as a mediator between the user and the sliding block mechanism. By coupling the cap's shank to the sliding block's coupling hole, the system allows indirect operation that reduces direct friction. The cap structure enables smooth movement through the cord passageway without the high friction and noise associated with direct manual manipulation of the sliding block.
3Reliability
If the sliding block is forced to move against resistance, then locking can be achieved, but the elastic member may be damaged easily
Solution Approach 1:
The cap acts as a force-distributing intermediary that connects to the sliding block through a controlled coupling mechanism. This intermediate connection allows the elastic member to be compressed and extended smoothly without sudden or biased forces that could cause damage. The coupling shank and coupling hole arrangement ensures that force is applied evenly, maintaining both locking security and elastic member durability.
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 design enables effortless and noise-free operation, preventing cord member jamming and component damage, while ensuring secure locking and unlocking of cord members.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding block B1 is made of a self-lubrication material so that the sliding block B1 can be smoothly and stably moved by the knob C along the cord passageway A1 without causing friction and noise
Implementation Method 2
The elastic member B is inserted through the accommodation hole A3 into the cord passageway A1 of the base member A, comprising a sliding block B1, a locating block B2 affixed to the base member A, and an elastically compressible portion B3 connected between the sliding block B1 and the locating block B2
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A cord lock includes a base member (1) defining therein a passageway (11) in between a front opening (10) and two rear cord slots (111) thereof, a slide member (2) supported on an elastic member (4) in the base member, a locking member (3) rotatably positioned in a recessed bearing portion (222) of the slide member, and a cap (5) supported on the top side of the base member and coupled to the slide and operable to move the slide member back and forth relative to the base member in carrying the locking member between a locking position to lock inserted cord members (6) to the base member and an unlocking position to release the cord members.