Locking Box Lid Displacement Mechanism for Secure Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking boxes require complex mechanisms or multiple components to secure the lid in the closed position when padlocks are not attached, making them costly and difficult to operate.
Innovation Solution
A closure mechanism with a linearly displaceable lid that engages and disengages with the container in retracted and extended positions, using a simple hinge and slotted hole arrangement, allowing the lid to be secured against release only when carried by the handle, eliminating the need for a push button release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex closure mechanism with multiple components (snap hooks, push buttons, bolts) is used to secure the lid in the closed position, then the locking box can be carried securely without padlocks, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the closure mechanism. Instead of using multiple interacting parts (snap hooks, push buttons, bolts), the patent uses a single closure element that combines the functions of securing and releasing the lid, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element is designed to perform multiple functions: it secures the lid in the closed position, prevents opening during transport, and can be easily released by the user. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
2Reliability
If a slide-mounted closure mechanism is used to secure the lid, then the locking box can be carried without padlocks, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism is segmented into simple, discrete components that can be easily manufactured and assembled. The closure element is designed as a separate, simple component that interacts with the lid and container through basic mechanical engagement, avoiding complex sliding mechanisms and reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring lid security
3Adaptability or versatility
If a push button release mechanism is added to enable carrying without padlocks, then the locking box becomes more versatile, but the device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism is designed to be self-operating through a simple lifting motion. When the user lifts the locking box by the carrying handle, the closure element automatically disengages from the securing position, allowing the lid to open without requiring padlocks. This eliminates the need for push buttons or complex release mechanisms, maintaining versatility while improving ease of operation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a locking box for enclosing objects, comprising an upwardly open container, a lid pivotally attached to the container via a hinge between a closed and an open position, the lid being provided on its upper side with a carrying handle for the locking box, several locking openings being provided in the lid and container for attaching multiple locking elements to secure the lid to the container in the closed position, and a locking mechanism being provided that allows the locking box to be carried by the handle in the closed position even without the locking elements being engaged. The lid is linearly displaceable on the hinge via an adjustment mechanism between a retracted position and an extended position.The closure comprises a closure element on the side of the lid opposite the hinge, with an engagement section that, in the closed position, engages in a closure receptacle of the container when the lid is in the retracted position, and the engagement is disengaged when the lid is in the extended position. The engagement section and the closure receptacle are designed such that, in the closed position, they prevent the lid from shifting from the retracted to the extended position by means of a positive locking mechanism when the lid is lifted relative to the container.