Dual Mechanism Suitcase Lock with Selective Engagement Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suitcase locks either require users to remember a combination or possess a key, leading to inconvenience and security issues when the combination is forgotten or the key is unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A complex suitcase lock that combines a combination lock and a pin tumbler lock, allowing users to selectively use either locking mechanism, featuring a housing with locating holes, a lock unit with a pin tumbler and combination lock, and linking units with retaining covers and spring members to facilitate secure and convenient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a combination lock is used, then the user can unlock the suitcase without a key, but the user must remember the correct combination which causes inconvenience when forgotten
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a combination lock mechanism and a pin tumbler lock mechanism into a single integrated lock system. The lock body contains both a moveable plate with numbered wheels for combination input and a plug with keyway for pin tumbler operation. This merging allows the user to switch between combination-based unlocking (convenient when combination is remembered) and key-based unlocking (reliable when combination is forgotten), thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security reliability.
2Reliability
If a pin tumbler lock is used, then the user can unlock the suitcase with a key, but the user cannot open the suitcase if the key is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a combination lock and a pin tumbler lock. The moveable plate can be positioned to engage with either the combination wheels or the pin tumbler plug. This universal design enables the same lock mechanism to accommodate multiple unlocking methods, providing reliability when key is unavailable (via pin tumbler) and convenience when key is available (via combination), thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single-type lock (combination or pin tumbler) is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different unlocking needs is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a combination lock mechanism comprising a moveable plate and numbered wheels, and a pin tumbler lock mechanism comprising a plug and keyway. These segmented modules operate independently but can be selectively engaged through the moveable plate's positioning. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be organized into manageable, independent components that can be understood and operated separately, thereby achieving high adaptability while keeping the structural complexity organized and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A complex suitcase lock includes a combination lock and a pin tumbler lock installed in a suitcase to work with two retaining units and two linking units so that the user can selectively use the combination lock or the pin tumbler lock to open the suitcase. When the pin tumbler lock is unlocked, a moveable plate is moved to a first position and disengaged from the linking units for allowing the user to push the retaining units and to further open the suitcase. When the pin tumbler lock is locked, the moveable plate is moved to a second position to hold the retaining units in engagement with hooks of the suitcase, keeping the suitcase locked.