Magnetic Lock and Key Assembly with Chamfered Edge Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional locks are vulnerable to contamination and tampering due to their mechanical design, which allows debris and unauthorized access, compromising operational life and security.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic lock and key system featuring a body with a moveable lock element, an arc magnet with a chamfered edge, and a magnetic key with a countersink, allowing for secure engagement and alignment of magnets to control the lock's position, preventing unauthorized access and reducing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a key opening is provided in the lock for mechanical key insertion, then the lock can be operated with a key, but debris and contaminants can enter through the opening and foul internal lock components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical key insertion system with a magnetic field-based system. The lock body contains a magnet that interacts with a magnetic key, eliminating the need for a physical key opening. This substitution removes the vulnerability to debris entry while maintaining key-based operation capability.
2Ease of operation
If a key opening is provided in the lock, then key access is enabled, but the opening creates vulnerability to tampering and unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical key opening by using a magnetic field interaction system. The magnet in the lock body interacts with the magnetic key through contactless magnetic coupling, providing both key access functionality and enhanced security by removing the physical opening that could be exploited for tampering.
3Reliability
If multiple precision elements are incorporated in the lock for mechanical engagement, then proper lock operation is ensured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the internal structure by replacing complex mechanical engagement elements with a magnetic field-based locking mechanism. The interaction between the magnet in the lock body and the magnetic key provides reliable lock operation through magnetic attraction and repulsion forces, eliminating the need for multiple precision mechanical components.
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 magnetic lock and key system enhances security and operational reliability by ensuring precise magnetic interactions, reducing debris entry and tampering risks, while maintaining consistent effective gap distances for secure operation.
Implementation Method 1
an arc magnet arranged within the body between the cap and the lock element... and a magnetic key arranged to engage the cap of the magnetic lock and including a key magnet
Implementation Method 2
The arc magnet defining a chamfered edge and moveable between a first position corresponding with the locked position of the lock element and a second position corresponding to the unlocked position of the lock element
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic lock and key system including a magnetic lock that includes: a body, a lock element arranged at least partially within the body and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, a cap coupled to the body and defining a dome, and an arc magnet arranged within the body between the cap and the lock element, the arc magnet defining a chamfered edge and moveable between a first position corresponding with the locked position of the lock element and a second position corresponding to the unlocked position of the lock element; and a magnetic key arranged to engage the cap of the magnetic lock and including a key magnet moveable between a first position spaced apart from the dome of the cap, and a second position adjacent the dome of the cap, the key magnet defining a countersink corresponding to chamfered edge.