Combination Discus Lock with Resettable Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional discus locks require a physical key for operation, which can be cumbersome and difficult to manage, and do not allow for easy resetting or changing of the key configuration without replacing the lock.
Innovation Solution
A combination discus lock with rotatable wheels displaying alphabetic, numeric, or symbolic indicia that can be aligned to form a combination to unlock the lock, and a reset mechanism allowing users to change the combination without replacing the lock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a key-based lock is used, then the locking mechanism is reliable and secure, but the key can be misplaced, cumbersome to carry, and difficult to remember
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical key-based locking system with a combination-based system using rotatable wheels with indicia. Instead of requiring a physical key, the user sets a combination by aligning specific indicia on the wheels, which mechanically disengages the locking mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for key management while maintaining secure locking through the mechanical integrity of the combination mechanism.
2Reliability
If a key-based lock is used, then the locking mechanism is secure, but the key configuration cannot be reset or changed without replacing the lock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a resettable combination mechanism where the indicia on the rotatable wheels can be repositioned to create new combinations. The locking mechanism includes a reset feature that allows the user to change the combination by moving the wheels to new positions and securing them in place. This dynamic reconfiguration capability enables the lock to adapt to changing security needs without replacement, while the mechanical securing of wheel positions maintains reliability.
3Ease of operation
If rotatable wheels with indicia are used instead of a key, then the lock becomes key-less and resettable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the rotatable wheels to serve multiple functions: they display the combination through indicia, mechanically control the locking mechanism through their rotation, and can be repositioned for resetting the combination. The indicia on the wheels provide visual feedback for setting and verifying combinations. By making the wheels multi-functional, the patent achieves key-less operation and resettable combinations without proportionally increasing complexity, as a single component performs multiple roles.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes combination discus locks and associated methods. A lock device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure includes a discus lock housing, a locking mechanism positioned in the lock housing, and a plurality of rotatable wheels operably coupled to the locking mechanism. The rotatable wheels can individually have a plurality of indicia used to display a combination. The locking mechanism can be configured to move from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration when the combination is displayed. The lock device can further include a shackle and a slider actuator positioned on an outer surface of the lock housing. The slider actuator can be operably coupled to the shackle and to the locking mechanism, and can be configured to drive the shackle from a closed position to an open position when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked configuration.