Lock Mechanism Flexible Deformation Portion Suppresses Half-Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lock mechanisms for securing covers to cases often result in half-fitting due to insufficient locking force, leading to easy removal of the cover from the case.
Innovation Solution
A lock mechanism featuring a flexible deformation portion near the lock portion that allows the locking claw to tilt over the edge of the locking hole with reduced force, and a restoring force that enhances the locking force after engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional lock mechanism locks the locking claw into the locking hole, then the number of parts is reduced and manufacturing cost is reduced, but the locking force becomes too large and half-fitting occurs where locking is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a flexible deformation portion with different flexibility characteristics than the rest of the wall portion. This localized flexible region allows the lock portion to deform easily under small force to enable locking claw engagement, while the rigid portions maintain structural strength. The flexibility gradient resolves the contradiction by allowing easy operation (small force) while ensuring reliable locking through the rigid structure that maintains locking force after engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of flexibility in a specific region of the wall portion. By creating a flexible deformation portion with higher flexibility than the surrounding areas, the lock mechanism can be operated with small force to tilt the lock portion and engage the locking claw. The parameter change from rigid to flexible in the deformation region enables reliable locking without requiring large operational force, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and locking reliability.
2Reliability
If the locking claw is locked into the locking hole with sufficient force, then reliable locking is achieved, but the cover cannot be closed properly due to excessive force requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible deformation portion creates a local quality difference where a specific region has high flexibility while other regions maintain rigidity. This allows the lock portion to be tilted easily by bending the flexible region with small force, enabling the locking claw to engage the locking hole. The rigid portions ensure that once engaged, the locking force remains strong and reliable, resolving the contradiction between easy operation and reliable locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by creating a flexible deformation portion that can dynamically change shape during the locking process. The flexible region bends to allow the lock portion to tilt and the locking claw to engage, then returns to its original shape to maintain strong locking force. This dynamic flexibility-rigidity transition enables both easy closing operation and reliable locking force, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and locking reliability.
3Reliability
If the lock portion is made rigid to maintain locking force, then reliable locking is achieved, but large force is required to tilt the lock portion for locking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a flexible deformation portion with distinct flexibility characteristics different from the surrounding rigid wall portion. This localized flexible region requires minimal force to bend and tilt the lock portion for locking engagement, while the rigid portions maintain structural integrity and provide strong locking force. The spatial differentiation between flexible and rigid regions resolves the contradiction between low tilting force and high locking stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wall portion into different functional regions: a flexible deformation portion for easy tilting and rigid portions for maintaining locking force. This segmentation allows the flexible region to be deformed with small force to enable locking, while the segmented rigid regions ensure stable locking once engaged. The segmentation strategy resolves the contradiction by assigning different mechanical properties to different spatial segments of the same component.
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 mechanism effectively suppresses half-fitting by allowing the locking claw to securely engage the locking hole with lower operational force and maintaining a strong locking force, preventing the cover from being easily detached from the case.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible deformation portion which is a portion of a predetermined range in the vicinity of the lock portion on the wall portion and has flexibility higher than a portion outside the predetermined range, and is bent such that the lock portion is tilted so that the locking claw gets over an edge of the locking hole
Implementation Method 2
after the locking, biases the lock portion in a pulling direction that pulls the locking claw together with the locking hole by a restoring force of bending
Data Source
AI summary
A lock mechanism includes: a lock portion that protrudes from a ceiling wall (wall portion) of a cover and has a locking claw provided on a tip side; a lock receiving portion provided in a case and formed with a locking hole; and a flexible deformation portion which is a portion of a predetermined range in the vicinity of the lock portion on the ceiling wall (wall portion) of the cover and has flexibility higher than a portion outside the predetermined range, and is bent such that the lock portion is tilted so that the locking claw gets over an edge of the locking hole when the locking claw is locked to the locking hole, and after the locking, biases the lock portion in a pulling direction that pulls the locking claw together with the locking hole by a restoring force of bending.