Latch Structure with Nested Screw and Tool-Required Cover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latch structures fail to prevent screws from loosening or falling off, especially in hazardous environments where electronic devices are exposed to inflammable or explosible gases, and do not securely prevent accidental opening by users.
Innovation Solution
A latch structure comprising a moving member with a receiving portion and a limiting portion that confines a screw between the moving member and a nut, preventing protrusion and loosening, and a waterproof cover that requires tool-assisted opening to prevent accidental exposure to hazardous environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the screw is exposed on the latch structure, then it is easy to tighten and loosen, but the screw may protrude outward and engage with foreign bodies or loosen due to external impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The screw is nested within a receiving portion of the moving member, which provides a cavity to accommodate the screw. This nesting structure prevents the screw from protruding outward while still allowing it to be tightened and loosened through the opening in the base plate, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving portion acts as an intermediary structure between the screw and the external environment. It confines the screw within its boundaries while providing controlled access through the opening, preventing direct exposure to foreign bodies and external impacts that could cause loosening.
2Ease of operation
If the waterproof cover can be opened easily by hand, then it is convenient for users, but it may be opened accidentally exposing connectors to hazardous environments
Solution Approach 1:
The latch structure employs a dynamic locking mechanism where the moving member can shift between locked and unlocked positions. The screw must be rotated to move the moving member and release the latch, providing controlled access that prevents accidental opening while maintaining ease of intentional operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch structure implements preliminary anti-action by requiring a deliberate rotating motion of the screw to overcome the locking mechanism before the cover can be opened. This preliminary action prevents accidental opening while still allowing convenient opening when intentionally triggered by the required rotation.
3Reliability
If the screw is confined within the moving member, then it prevents protrusion and falling off, but it requires tool-assisted operation to tighten and loosen
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is provided with an opening that allows asymmetric access to the screw. This asymmetric design enables the screw to be confined within the moving member for reliability while still allowing tool-assisted tightening and loosening through the opening, resolving the contradiction between containment and operability.
Data Source
AI summary
A latch structure includes a moving member, a nut and a screw. The moving member includes a base plate, a receiving portion and a limiting portion. The receiving portion has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is connected to the base plate. The limiting portion is disposed at the second end portion of the receiving portion. The nut is fixed into the receiving portion and positioned proximate to the first end portion. The screw is received in the receiving portion and confined to between the limiting portion and the nut.