Plate Lock Hinged Bar Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plate locks used for securing objects are excessively heavy due to their massive design, which compromises their portability and usability.
Innovation Solution
The plate lock design incorporates hinged bars formed from bent metal wires or folded sheet metal parts, which provide structural rigidity and security while reducing weight, with optional sleeves for enhanced stability and a cost-effective manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If plate locks are made massive to achieve high security against being broken open, then security strength is improved, but weight increases undesirably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using thin-walled tubular profiles instead of massive solid bars. The hollow cylindrical structure provides adequate strength and stiffness while significantly reducing weight. The thin-walled design maintains security against breaking open through its structural geometry and material properties rather than relying on mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining the tubular profile structure with specific material properties. The hollow cylindrical form factor creates a structural composite that achieves high strength-to-weight ratio, providing security against forced entry while minimizing weight for portability.
2Strength
If hinged bars are formed as massive straight metal bars, then strength and stiffness are improved, but weight and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using bent metal wires formed into loop structures with specific curvature radii. The bent wire configuration provides the necessary structural strength and stiffness while enabling compact folding when not in use. The curved geometry is achieved through wire drawing and bending processes that are more manufacturable than massive forged bars.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the hinged bar into segmented components: multiple bent wire loops connected by hinge pins. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using wire drawing and bending, then assembled through simple hinge connections, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity compared to producing single massive bars.
3Weight of moving object
If hinged bars are made from bent metal wire or folded sheet metal, then weight is reduced, but structural rigidity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using thin-walled tubular profiles that maintain structural rigidity despite reduced wall thickness. The hollow cylindrical geometry provides moment of inertia that resists bending and deformation, ensuring adequate rigidity for security applications while minimizing material usage and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The bent wire loops with controlled curvature radii provide structural rigidity through their geometric configuration. The curved structure resists deformation better than straight lines would, while the wire material and loop geometry can be optimized to achieve the required rigidity at minimal weight.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a plate lock having a lock body and a hinged bar hoop. A first end of the hinged bar hoop is permanently secured to the lock body and a second end of the hinged bar hoop can be latched to the lock body. The hinged bar hoop has a plurality of hinged bars which are pivotally connected to one another via a respective hinged connection. The hinged bars have a first eye and a second eye, wherein the respective hinged connection between two hinged bars has at least one hinged pin in order to connect the first eye of the one hinged bar to the second eye of the other hinged bar. The respective hinged bar has at least one bent metal wire or at least one folded sheet metal part which extends between the first eye and the second eye.