Flexible Cut-Resistant Lock With Floating Inner Cable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable locks are either heavy and bulky, difficult to adjust, or easily cut, and lack integrated tools for specific applications.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, compact flexible lock with a cut-resistant strap formed of woven KEVLAR and a stainless steel cable, where the inner cable floats freely within the outer material, making it harder to cut, and includes a pivoting cam for adjustable locking and detachable tool plates for specific tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a heavy metal chain or cable is used for the lock, then cut resistance is improved, but portability and ease of carrying deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining steel cable with polyethylene or polypropylene coating to create a strap that is both cut-resistant and lightweight. This composite structure allows the lock to achieve the strength of metal while eliminating the weight and bulk of traditional metal chains, directly resolving the contradiction between cut resistance and portability
2Weight of moving object
If a thin cable is used to make the lock compact and retractable, then portability is improved, but cut resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials with a steel core providing cut resistance and a polymer coating providing flexibility and compactness. This allows the cable to remain thin and retractable while maintaining high cut resistance, resolving the contradiction between compactness and strength
3Strength
If a fixed-size U-shaped shackle is used, then cut resistance is improved, but adaptability to different locking applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the fixed U-shaped shackle with a flexible strap that can be adjusted to any length and configuration. The strap can be wrapped around objects multiple times or adjusted to fit different sizes, providing infinite adaptability while maintaining cut resistance through the composite material construction
4Ease of operation
If conventional cable cutters are used, then ease of operation is improved, but cut resistance of the lock deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harm of conventional cutters being effective against traditional cables into a benefit by designing a composite strap that resists these same cutters. The polymer-coated steel construction causes conventional cable cutters to slip or fail, while the lock remains easy to operate with standard locking mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A portable, flexible lock is disclosed with a cut-resistant strap formed of a durable and flexible outer portion and that defines a chamber for receiving a second durable, flexible inner portion therein. The inner portion floats freely side-to-side within the chamber thereby making the inner portion more difficult to cut. In a disclosed embodiment, the outer portion is formed of woven KEVLAR and the inner portion is a stainless steel cable. The lock may include a housing assembly that holds one end of the strap while a synching device, such as a pivoting cam or the like, detachably secures a portion of the opposite end of the strap thereto when the synching device in a locked position. A lock structure holds the synching device in its locked position. One or more tools may be detachably secured to the housing assembly.