3D Printed Maze Lock Ball Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical lock boxes lack customization, complexity, and secure unlocking mechanisms, as they often rely on physical keys or visible puzzles that can be easily manipulated by others, and fail to provide a private unlocking experience for personal items.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical lock box featuring a three-dimensional multi-level printed maze within a housing, where a ball rolls along tortuous pathways to align with a push rod, pivoting a hook bar to unlock the lid, providing a concealed and customizable unlocking operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional padlock and physical key are used, then the locking mechanism is simple and reliable, but the key must be secured and located each time the lockbox is locked or unlocked, creating management difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the physical key from the system entirely, extracting the key management function and replacing it with a puzzle-based mechanical locking mechanism that eliminates the need for separate key handling while maintaining secure access control
Solution Approach 2:
The lockbox employs a self-contained puzzle mechanism where the user solves the maze to directly actuate the locking and unlocking actions, making the system self-service without requiring external keys or electronic components
2Ease of operation
If electronic locks, fingerprint locks, or Bluetooth locks are used, then the problem of managing physical keys is solved, but such locking mechanisms are expensive and require a power source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic and digital locking systems with a purely mechanical puzzle-based mechanism, eliminating the need for power sources, batteries, or electronic components while achieving similar keyless access functionality through a three-dimensional maze that directs a ball to actuate the lock
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses simple, inexpensive mechanical components such as a ball, maze structure, and latch mechanism instead of expensive electronic systems, creating a cost-effective locking solution that maintains security without requiring costly technology
3Reliability
If a puzzle is incorporated in the lockbox to make opening a game or puzzle to be solved, then the unlocking process becomes more secure, but the puzzle could be seen by a second person with access to the lockbox and thus could be solved with some intelligence and manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional surface puzzle to a three-dimensional internal maze structure, where the ball travels through concealed pathways within the lockbox body. This dimensional change ensures the puzzle mechanism remains hidden from external view, preventing observation and manipulation by others while maintaining the security function
4Device complexity
If a two-dimensional maze is used, then the structure is simple, but the manipulation and complexity in the unlocking operation are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a three-dimensional maze structure with multiple levels and vertical pathways instead of a flat two-dimensional design. This allows the ball to travel through complex spatial routes including upward and downward movements, significantly increasing the puzzle's complexity and the dexterity required to solve it, while the maze remains concealed within the lockbox
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 solution offers a secure, complex, and private unlocking mechanism that eliminates the need for physical keys, enhances problem-solving skills, and personalizes the lock box to each user, ensuring only the owner can access the contents.
Implementation Method 1
a ball enclosed in the 3D multi-level printed maze. The ball is free to roll along the maze pathways and into the release chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical lock box comprising a housing including a lid and a hook fastener attached to the lid and a 3D multi-level printed maze. A release chamber is located within the maze and a ball is enclosed in the maze. The mechanical lock box further includes a hook bar having a first hook bar end which pivotally connects to a pivot box in the maze and a second hook bar end having a lock hook configured to engage with the hook fastener to hold the lid in a locked position. A hook pusher is configured to pivot the hook bar to unlock the lid when the ball pushes against the hook pusher.