Disposable Anti-tampering Lock Catch with Integrated Tearing Arm

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disposable lock catches with anti-tampering features either require specialized tools for opening, result in environmentally unfriendly debris, or have complex structures with high manufacturing costs, and lack clear indication of their opened state.

Innovation Solution

A disposable anti-tampering lock catch with a simple, one-piece design featuring a main tearing structure and an auxiliary tearing arm that deforms upon opening, ensuring the tearing components remain attached and are made of high-strength plastic, allowing for easy operation without tools and clear visual indication of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional disposable lock catches are used, then anti-tampering effect is achieved, but tearing pieces drop into the box causing environmental pollution and recovery difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental pollution from scattered tearing piecesVSAvoidanti-tampering effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the tearing piece with the lock catch body through a connecting structure. When the lock catch is damaged to achieve anti-tampering effect, the tearing piece remains connected to the main body rather than scattering, thus maintaining reliability while eliminating environmental pollution from scattered debris.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The design enables the tearing piece to be recovered along with the lock catch body after use. The connecting structure ensures that when the lock catch is removed from the box, the tearing piece is retained, facilitating easy recovery and disposal as a single unit rather than scattered fragments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Object-affected harmful factors

If lock catches with complex structures are used, then anti-tampering effect is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-tampering protectionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The lock catch body, tearing piece, and connecting structure form a unified component that provides anti-tampering protection without requiring multiple separate parts, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining security effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lock catch structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: the main body provides locking, the tearing piece provides visual indication and tamper evidence, and the connecting structure ensures both remain together. This multi-functionality in a single structure reduces overall complexity compared to separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If lock catches requiring dedicated tools for opening are used, then anti-tampering effect is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-tampering protectionVSAvoidopening convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lock catch is designed to be opened by hand without requiring dedicated tools. The structure allows users to easily grasp and remove the lock catch from the box opening, making the operation self-service and convenient while still providing effective anti-tampering protection through the disposable nature of the component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 catch is easy to manufacture, disassemble, and operate, maintaining structural integrity during transport, with a clear visual indication of use and environmentally friendly disposal, while providing effective anti-tampering protection.

Implementation Method 1

the auxiliary tearing arm is elastically deformed after the second tearing structure has been torn

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3255228B1Disposable Anti-tampering lock catch
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 SHANGHAI HONGYAN RETURNABLE TRANSIT PACKAGINGS CO LTD
  • EP3255228B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3255228B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3255228B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed is a disposable anti-tampering lock catch. The disposable anti-tampering lock catch is an integrated piece and comprises a handle (101), a main tearing portion (103), a locking portion (104), a limiting portion (102) and an auxiliary tearing arm (105). A first tearing structure (1031) which cannot be restored after being torn is arranged on the main tearing portion (103). The auxiliary tearing arm (105) is provided with a second tearing structure (1051), wherein when the disposable anti-tampering lock catch is opened, both the first tearing structure (1031) and the second tearing structure (1051) are torn, and the shape of the auxiliary tearing arm (105) is deformed after being torn and cannot be reset.