Hinged Box Locking Mechanism With Remote Rod Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing and operating the locking mechanism of hinged boxes, especially when they are mounted high on a wall or near a ceiling, is difficult due to the integration and concealment of the locking means, making it hard to unlock and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism comprising a bolt with a rocker arm and return arm, allowing for easy access and operation via a rod, which can pivot to move the bolt from a locked to an unlocked position, with end stops and guide passages for precise movement and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking means are integrated and concealed to improve security and aesthetics, then the locking mechanism is secure and invisible, but the accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate when boxes are mounted high on walls
Solution Approach 1:
A rod is introduced as an intermediary tool to reach and operate the concealed locking mechanism. The rod passes through a guide passage in the bolt to actuate the rocker arm, enabling operation of the hidden locking means without requiring direct access to the locking components themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is accessed through a dimensional approach by creating a guide passage that allows the rod to approach the rocker arm from a different spatial direction (through the wall surface), rather than requiring direct access to the side where the rocker arm is located.
2Device complexity
If the locking means are integrated into the box structure to reduce complexity, then the number of components is reduced, but the ease of repair and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is extracted as a separate, removable tool that can be introduced through the guide passage for maintenance operations, then removed after use. This allows maintenance personnel to access and manipulate the locking mechanism internally without disassembling the box structure, maintaining low device complexity while improving ease of repair.
3Force
If the rocker arm is positioned to effectively actuate the bolt, then the mechanical advantage is optimized, but the accessibility for manual operation deteriorates when mounted in high locations
Solution Approach 1:
The rod serves as a mediator that transmits force from a remotely accessible location through the guide passage to the rocker arm. This allows the rocker arm to be positioned for optimal mechanical advantage while being actuated by a tool that can be inserted from an accessible direction (through the wall surface).
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates easy and secure operation of the locking mechanism, ensuring accessibility and reliability even when the boxes are mounted in hard-to-reach locations, enhancing usability and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a spring which returns the bolt to its initial position
Implementation Method 2
a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said first part and having an actuating arm which cooperates with said bolt
Data Source
AI summary
The box (1) has a locking unit including a bolt (6) mounted sliding on a part of the box between locking and unlocking positions. The bolt includes a locking pin (13) cooperated with a fixing portion (15) of another part of the box. A recall unit (20) returns the bolt toward the locking position. A rocker arm (21) is mounted swiveling on the former part. The arm has an actuation arm (25) cooperating with the bolt and a reference arm (27) opposed to the actuation arm. The rocker arm swivels, and the actuation arm moves the bolt toward the unlocking position when the reference arm is moved.