Locking bracket for irrigation time control box
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irrigation timer boxes are vulnerable to unauthorized access and tampering by tenants, who can easily pry open the locks using a screwdriver, leading to unintended adjustments in sprinkler systems, resulting in inefficient water usage and increased water bills.
Innovation Solution
A retrofitable locking bracket with a vertical extension bracket and base plate is attached to the inside surface of the timer box, featuring a locking slot that engages the cam lock assembly, preventing the cover from being pried open by deflecting the locking tab, and optionally includes a padeye hole for additional security with a padlock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple keyed cam lock is used to secure the timer box, then the box can be easily opened by the homeowner for adjustments, but the box becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access and tampering by tenants
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is divided into two independent parts: the original cam lock mechanism for authorized access, and the additional locking bracket with locking tab for security. The locking bracket includes a vertical extension bracket attached to a base plate, with a locking slot that engages the cam lock assembly, creating a segmented dual-locking system where each component serves a specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking bracket acts as an intermediary security device between the cam lock and the box cover. The locking tab on the bracket engages with the cam lock assembly, preventing the cover from being pried open even if the original lock is compromised. This intermediary mechanism provides an additional layer of security without interfering with the original locking function.
2Strength
If the timer box is made of resilient plastic material, then the box can withstand impacts without shattering, but the box becomes vulnerable to prying open by screwdriver insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The locking bracket is installed beforehand to prevent the harmful action of prying. The locking tab extends through the cover and engages with the cam lock assembly, creating preliminary resistance against prying attempts. When a screwdriver is inserted between the lip of the cover and the locking tab, the locking bracket's structural rigidity prevents the cover from being pried open, countering the harmful effect before it can compromise the box.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple buildings each have their own sprinkler timer box, then wiring costs are reduced, but the number of boxes that require security monitoring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking bracket is designed as a universal security device that can be installed on any standard timer box across multiple buildings. The bracket's standardized dimensions and mounting holes allow it to be applied uniformly to different locations, providing consistent security without requiring custom designs for each building. This multi-functional approach simplifies the overall system while addressing the security needs of multiple distributed boxes.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking bracket, for use with an irrigation sprinkler timer box having a base for attachment to a fixed mounting surface, a plurality of side walls extending out from said base, a hinged cover rotatably attached to one side of the timer box, and a cam lock assembly having a rotatable cam plate mounted to the hinged cover in a position for engagement with a locking tab fixed on a sidewall of said timer box located opposite to the side to which the hinged cover is attached, when the hinged cover is closed and the cam lock assembly is in the locked position, is provided and formed of a base plate configured to attachment to the timer box base inside the timer box and a vertical extension bracket attached to and extending normally out from said base plate in juxtaposed, parallel spaced relationship with the timer box sidewall adjacent to the locking tab and has a cam lock receiving slot formed therein and configured for engagement with the cam lock in a position between said cam lock and the locking tab when the hinged lid is closed and the cam lock is positioned for engagement with the locking tab.