Lid Safety Device With Multi-Position Cam Groove Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety devices for storage cases fail to reliably maintain the lid in a closed position during sudden accelerations or collisions, as they can unintentionally open due to inertia forces and vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with a lock pin mechanism that includes a responding moving member with a cam groove, where the lock pin is displaced and locked in multiple positions within the groove, requiring multiple reciprocating movements to disengage, ensuring the lid remains closed even under acceleration and vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single locking groove is used in the safety device, then the structure is simple, but the lid can unintentionally open during vibrations or repeated acceleration events
Solution Approach 1:
The single locking groove is divided into multiple locking grooves (first locking groove, second locking groove, third locking groove) arranged in sequence along the movement direction of the lock pin. This segmentation allows the lock pin to engage with multiple positions, preventing unintended opening during vibrations or repeated acceleration events while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock pin is designed to sequentially engage with multiple locking grooves in advance before any unintended opening can occur. The depth information storage unit pre-stores the depth information of each locking groove, enabling the system to prepare multiple engagement positions that will prevent opening under various acceleration conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the lock pin is easily disengaged for normal operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the lid may open unintentionally during acceleration or vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions between different states dynamically. During normal operation, the lid can be opened by applying force to overcome the spring member's urging. During acceleration or vibration, the inertia force causes the lock pin to engage with multiple locking grooves, creating a more resistant state that prevents unintended opening. The mechanism adapts its locking strength based on the operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The inertia force generated during acceleration or vibration, which could potentially cause harmful unintended opening, is converted into a beneficial force that pushes the lock pin into multiple locking grooves. This transforms the harmful inertial effect into an enhanced locking mechanism that actively prevents opening during such events.
3Reliability
If multiple locking grooves are provided for the lock pin to engage, then the reliability against unintended opening is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple locking grooves are merged into a single continuous groove structure on the lock member. The first, second, and third locking grooves are formed as interconnected features of the same lock member component, rather than separate independent components. This merging approach provides multiple engagement positions while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate locking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock member with multiple locking grooves serves multiple functions: it provides the locking engagement surfaces, guides the lock pin movement, stores depth information through the groove geometry, and responds to acceleration forces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable multi-position locking.
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 safety device effectively maintains the lid in a closed state during accelerations and vibrations, preventing unintentional opening by requiring multiple movements to disengage the lock pin, thus enhancing the reliability of the locking mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member (81) which always urges the lock pin (78) toward the cam groove (71)
Implementation Method 2
when the case receives an acceleration in a direction reverse to the aforementioned predetermined direction, generating an inertia force against an urging force of the spring to be displaced in the direction reverse to the aforementioned predetermined direction
Data Source
AI summary
A safety device used for a case with a lid, includes a lock pin device having a responding moving member supported in the case, and a lock pin protruding from the responding moving member; a lock member provided on a lid side, and including a cam groove to receive the lock pin; and a spring member. The cam groove includes at least three first portions extending in an opening/closing direction of the lid, having an opening-directional end portion and a closing-directional end portion, and disposed in parallel at a predetermined interval therebetween; and a plurality of second portions connecting the closing-directional end portion of the first portions and intermediate portions of adjacent first portions. A depth of a bottom portion between the first portion and the second portion is different to transfer the lock pin from a first of the first portions to a last of the first portions non-reversibly.