Lock Cylinder Position Indicator via Intermediary Display Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interchangeable cylinder systems for locks lack an indicator to visually distinguish between open and closed positions, posing a risk of unintentionally leaving doors or cabinets open, which is unsafe.
Innovation Solution
A retrofittable display element, designed as a thin-walled annular plate, is mounted between the cylinder housing and lock cylinder collar, featuring a recess that allows markings (e.g., color or word markings) to be visible through the collar, enabling easy identification of the lock cylinder's position without requiring structural changes to the cylinder housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a traditional interchangeable cylinder system is used without additional components, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is good, but the ability to detect the lock cylinder position (open or closed) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A display element is introduced as an intermediary component between the lock cylinder and the external environment. This display element includes a viewing window that allows visual detection of the lock cylinder's position (open or closed) without requiring fundamental structural changes to the cylinder housing, thus resolving the information loss while maintaining relatively simple system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The display element utilizes visual indicators (such as color markings or transparent/opaque sections) that change or become visible based on the lock cylinder's position. When the lock cylinder is in the closed position, the viewing window allows visibility of a specific marking; when open, a different marking is visible, providing clear position information through visual differentiation
2Loss of information
If a display element is added to indicate lock cylinder position, then position visibility is improved, but the ease of retrofitting into existing systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display function is segmented into a separate, removable display element that can be independently manufactured and installed. This display element includes a viewing window and visual markings that can be retrofitted onto existing lock cylinders without modifying the cylinder housing structure, enabling easy integration into current systems
Solution Approach 2:
The display element is designed to be dynamically removable and repositionable. It can be mounted on the cylinder housing when needed and removed when not needed, allowing flexible installation and adaptation to different systems without permanent structural modifications, thus facilitating easy retrofitting
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a cylinder changeout system (1) for locks, comprising a cylinder housing (2), a lock cylinder (3) that can be slid into and pulled out of the cylinder housing (2) and that can be rotated axially to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder (3) and the cylinder housing (2) between an open position and a closed position in the cylinder housing (2), wherein the lock cylinder (3) protrudes past the lateral surface (7) of the lock cylinder (3) and axially contacts an end face (5) of the cylinder housing (2), wherein the collar (8) of the lock cylinder (3) comprises a recess (10) and wherein the side of the collar (8) facing the lateral surface (7) of the lock cylinder (3) contacts an indicator element (4) fixed in position relative to the cylinder housing (2), wherein the surface of the indicator element (4) facing the collar (8) has at least one marking (11, 12) so that the open position and the closed position of the lock cylinder (3) can be read by the marking (11, 12) visible through the recess (10) in the lock cylinder (3).