Push-In Plunger Lock Housing for Welded Binder Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push-in-plunger locks attached to devices like ratchet binders face challenges in re-keying and replacement, requiring locksmith services and incurring additional costs and inconvenience due to metal welding attachment methods.
Innovation Solution
A housing-cylinder design with a cylinder-pin mechanism that secures the lock in place, allowing easy removal and replacement of push-in-plunger locks by aligning the cylinder-pin with the lock's holes only when in the unlocked position, using a non-threaded peg or spring pin for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal welding attachment method is used to secure the push-in-plunger-lock to the ratchet binder, then the lock is securely held in place, but the lock cannot be easily removed or replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the attachment system into three separate components: the ratchet binder, the housing-cylinder, and the push-in-plunger-lock. The housing-cylinder is attached to the ratchet binder via welding, while the lock is separately attachable to the housing-cylinder. This segmentation allows the lock to be easily replaced without affecting the welded connection between the housing-cylinder and ratchet binder.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing-cylinder acts as an intermediary component between the ratchet binder and the push-in-plunger-lock. It provides a secure mounting structure that is welded to the ratchet binder, while simultaneously offering a removable attachment interface for the lock through the cylinder-pin mechanism.
2Strength
If metal welding attachment method is used to secure the push-in-plunger-lock to the ratchet binder, then the lock remains securely attached during use, but removing the lock requires grinding tools and additional expense
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment process is segmented into two simple steps: first, the housing-cylinder is welded to the ratchet binder (done once), then the lock is easily attached to the housing-cylinder using the cylinder-pin mechanism (can be done repeatedly). This eliminates the need for grinding tools and reduces installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing-cylinder is pre-attached to the ratchet binder through welding, creating a permanent mounting structure. This preliminary action allows subsequent locks to be easily installed and removed without affecting the mounted structure, simplifying the overall installation process.
3Ease of operation
If the lock is attached using flanges and screws or threads and locknut, then the lock can be removed by opening the device, but area constraints or portable devices without concealing devices prevent this attachment method
Solution Approach 1:
The housing-cylinder serves multiple functions: it provides a welded mounting interface for permanent attachment to the ratchet binder, and simultaneously provides a removable interface for the push-in-plunger-lock. This universal design allows the system to work in scenarios where traditional screw or flange attachments are not feasible.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing-cylinder acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between permanent welding attachment and removable lock attachment. It enables the lock to be securely mounted in situations where direct welding or traditional mechanical attachment would be impractical.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ratchet binders are ordered keyed alike, then all locks use the same key, but if additional ratchet binders are purchased that are not keyed alike, re-keying requires locksmith services and substantial expense
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system is segmented so that the push-in-plunger-lock can be independently removed from the housing-cylinder. This allows users to replace locks with keyed-alike units without requiring locksmith services, simply by detaching the old lock and attaching a new one through the cylinder-pin mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of re-keying existing locks through expensive locksmith services, the system allows users to discard the old lock and recover the housing-cylinder for use with a new keyed-alike lock. The cylinder-pin mechanism facilitates this simple replacement process.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a push-in-plunger-lock and housing-cylinder that facilitates an easy removal and installation of the push-in-plunger-lock as it attaches to a lockable device. Normally the push-in-plunger-lock can be mounted to a lockable device using two flanges with holes or threads on the lock being secured in place with a locknut ring. In certain particular applications of using the push-in-plunger-lock there is no suitable application to mount the lock other than metal welding the push-in-plunger-lock to the lockable device. One of these particular applications is mounting the push-in-plunger-lock on a ratchet chain binder to block the use of the U-pawl preventing the normal operational removal of the ratchet chain binder from a chain. The invention provides a housing-cylinder to insert the push-in-plunger-lock into while securing the lock in place with a pin. The pin can only be removed when the push-in-plunger-lock is in the unlocked position. The invention allows the push-in-plunger-lock to be easily changed and matched to keyed alike other push-in-plunger-locks instead of re-keying the push-in-plunger-locks or allowing the replacing of a defective push-in-plunger-lock that would involve grinding the defective push-in-plunger-lock from the lockable device and metal welding a replacement push-in-plunger-lock onto the lockable device.