Interlinked Locking Arms for Airline Cart Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airline cart locking devices are susceptible to theft and unauthorized access due to vulnerabilities such as picking, shimming, and bumping, which allow nefarious actors to bypass security measures without damaging the lock or hasp, making it difficult to detect unauthorized removal of high-value goods.
Innovation Solution
A lock with two interlinked locking arms that move reversibly and are biased to a maximum limit, ensuring engagement with a hasp, and a hasp with a break point for easy removal, preventing shim insertion and enhancing security by requiring a tool for removal, thus preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal hasps are used instead of plastic hasps, then security against unauthorized removal is improved, but the lock becomes susceptible to picking, shimming, and bumping attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two independent locking arms that can be engaged or disengaged separately. When one locking arm is compromised by shimming or picking, the other locking arm remains engaged, maintaining security. This segmentation ensures that a single point of failure does not compromise the entire locking system.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing means continuously urges both locking arms toward the engaged position with the hasp, maintaining constant pressure and engagement. This preliminary action ensures that the locking arms are always in a secure state, preventing unauthorized access through picking or bumping attempts.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If locking arms are made thicker to prevent shim insertion, then resistance to shimming attacks is improved, but the hasp must be thicker which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism uses two separate locking arms with thickness optimized for security. The dual-arm configuration allows each arm to be thinner than a single arm would need to be, while collectively providing robust resistance to shimming attacks. This segmentation enables thinner individual components without compromising overall security.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the thickness (one dimension) of locking arms to prevent shimming, the invention adds another locking arm, transitioning from a single-layer to a multi-layer locking system. This dimensional approach provides equivalent or superior security with optimized component dimensions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If two locking arms are tied together to move as one unit, then resistance to picking attacks is improved, but removal of broken hasp becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The locking arms are connected through a pivot point that allows relative movement between them. This dynamic connection enables the arms to move independently when needed (such as when removing a broken hasp) while maintaining coordinated movement during normal locking operations. The pivot point acts as a hinge, allowing one arm to swing out of the way while the other remains engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking arms are segmented with a pivot point between them, allowing independent movement of each arm. This segmentation enables selective disengagement of one arm while the other remains locked, facilitating easy removal of broken hasps while maintaining security through the engaged arm.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If biasing means is added to urge locking arms toward maximum engagement, then security against bumping attacks is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing means automatically maintains the locking arms in the engaged position with the hasp without requiring external actuation or monitoring systems. The spring or elastic element continuously applies force to keep the arms engaged, providing passive security against bumping attacks while adding minimal complexity to the overall mechanism.
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
The lock and hasp combination effectively resists unauthorized access and theft by ensuring secure engagement with the hasp and easy removal, enhancing security for airline carts by preventing shim-based attacks and requiring tool-based removal for metal hasps, thereby protecting high-value goods.
Implementation Method 1
the lock further comprises biasing means, the biasing means arranged to urge the first locking arm and the second locking towards the maximum limit
Data Source
AI summary
A lock, suitable for locking an airline cart, the lock comprising, a body, at least two locking arms housed within the body, and a biasing means, the biasing means arranged to urge a first locking arm and a second locking towards a maximum limit. The at least two locking arms are configured to resist removal of a hasp inserted into the lock. The at least two locking arms are tied to one another such that the at least two locking arms may reversibly move relative to one another, and an amount of movement of a first locking arm relative to a second locking arm is up to the maximum limit. A hasp for use with the lock, and kit of parts, is further disclosed.