Electrical Enclosure Latch With Wing Tabs for Gloved Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latch devices for electrical enclosures are difficult to actuate due to ergonomic challenges, especially when users wear protective gloves, leading to safety risks and increased service time.
Innovation Solution
A latch device with a body, bracket, and hook member, featuring wing tabs and hinge pins that allow easy gripping and actuation, eliminating the need for tools and excessive force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional latch devices are used to securely close the electrical enclosure door, then security and safety are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in actuating the latch
Solution Approach 1:
The latch device is divided into separate functional components: a body portion with wing tabs for user interaction, a bracket for mounting, and a hook member for engagement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the wing tabs provide easy grip and actuation while the hook member maintains secure engagement with the door.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing tabs act as an intermediary between the user's hand and the latch mechanism. These tabs extend from the body and provide a convenient gripping surface that translates user input into effective actuation of the latch, eliminating the need for tools or excessive force.
2Reliability
If traditional latch devices are used to secure the enclosure door, then security is improved, but time for service operations increases due to difficulty in opening the latch
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the latch into distinct components with specialized functions - particularly the wing tabs for quick actuation and the hook member for secure engagement - the overall operation time is reduced while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing tabs are pre-configured on the latch body to provide immediate gripping capability when needed. This preliminary arrangement of functional elements allows users to quickly actuate the latch without needing to search for tools or figure out complex operation sequences.
3Reliability
If traditional latch devices are used, then secure latching is achieved, but user safety deteriorates due to risk of injury from excessive force or tool use
Solution Approach 1:
The wing tabs serve as an intermediary that provides a safe interface between the user and the latch mechanism. They allow controlled actuation without requiring tools or excessive force, thereby eliminating safety hazards associated with hammering or using screwdrivers on traditional latches.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch device is designed to be self-actuating through the wing tabs, which allow users to open and close the latch simply by gripping and manipulating the tabs. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external tools and reduces the risk of injury.
4Reliability
If traditional latch devices are used, then secure door closure is achieved, but ergonomics deteriorate making the latch awkward and uncomfortable to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The latch is segmented into a body portion with integrated wing tabs that are specifically shaped for ergonomic hand contact. This segmentation allows the wing tabs to be optimized for finger placement and gripping, improving ergonomics while the separate hook member maintains secure door closure.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for securing a door of an electrical enclosure includes a body, a bracket, and a hook member. The body includes flanges defining a bracket aperture and a hook aperture and wing tabs extending from the body at an angle with respect to the body. The bracket includes knuckles defining a knuckle aperture, and a lock flange extends from the bracket. The hook member includes projections defining a projection aperture and a hook portion extends from the hook member. A first hinge pin extends through the bracket aperture and the knuckle aperture to pivotally engage the body and the bracket and a second hinge pin extends through the hook aperture and the projection aperture to pivotally engage the body and the hook member. The wing tabs are configured to allow a user to grip the body to actuate the device from a closed position to an open position.