Lock Cylinder Protective Cap With Movable Dust-Sealing Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective cap devices for lock cylinders are not versatile and cannot be easily adapted to different locking devices, and they may lead to contamination due to design limitations and lack of dust protection.

Innovation Solution

A protective cap device with movable locking elements and a design that allows attachment to various locking devices through snap-fit connections, featuring a rotatable cap with fastening elements and a spring mechanism to ensure proper alignment and dust protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective cap device is designed with fixed mounting dimensions to ensure proper fit and dust protection, then dust protection and alignment are improved, but adaptability to different locking devices is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust protectionVSAvoidadaptability to different locking devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cap device is divided into a cap body and a separate mounting plate. The mounting plate can be selectively removed or adjusted, allowing the cap body to remain as a standalone dust protection element while the mounting plate provides adaptable attachment to different locking device configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting plate is designed with multiple mounting hole positions and patterns that can accommodate various locking device types and dimensions. This universal design allows the same protective cap device to be adapted to different locking devices while maintaining proper alignment and dust protection through the standardized cap body interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the protective cap device includes integrated mounting features for secure attachment, then dust protection is improved, but versatility to accommodate different locking device dimensions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust protectionVSAvoidversatility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting function is segmented from the cap body into a separate removable mounting plate. This allows the cap body to maintain its dust protection function with integrated sealing features, while the mounting plate provides adaptable attachment capabilities through multiple hole patterns that can be selected based on the specific locking device being protected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the protective cap device is designed as a single integrated component, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different locking devices is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into two separately manufacturable components: a cap body and a mounting plate. Each component can be manufactured using optimized processes for its specific requirements, then assembled together. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity for each individual component while providing adaptability through the modular assembly approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting plate serves as a universal interface between the cap body and various locking devices. By standardizing the cap body design and providing multiple mounting plate configurations, the system achieves versatility without complicating the manufacturing of the primary protective component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the protective cap device includes multiple mounting hole positions for different orientations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting hole variations are segmented into different mounting plate options rather than incorporating all variations into a single complex cap body design. This allows each mounting plate to have a specific hole pattern optimized for particular locking device configurations, reducing the complexity of each individual component while maintaining overall system adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4707503A1Protective cap device, lock device, dust preventing lock device, and lock device

Publication Date: 2026.03.11 DORMAKABA SCHWEIZ AG

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AI summary

The invention relates to a protective cap device (10) for a locking device (100), with at least one locking element (20, 21) for protecting a keyway (110) of the locking device (100), wherein the at least one locking element (20, 21) is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the protective cap device (10) comprises a protective cap (11), wherein the protective cap (11) comprises a base area (12) and a lateral area (13), wherein the at least one locking element (20, 21) is arranged in the protective cap (11), wherein the protective cap (11) comprises an insertion opening (14) for inserting a key on the base area (12), and wherein the protective cap (11) comprises fastening elements (15) on the lateral area (13) for attaching the protective cap (11) to a rotor (120) of the locking device (100).