Portable Light Locking Mechanism for Hazardous Environment Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable lights, especially those intended for hazardous environments, face challenges in providing simple and safe operation with multiple modes without requiring disassembly, which complicates user control and safety certification due to the need for tool-free disassembly to prevent ignition risks.
Innovation Solution
A portable light design featuring a rotatable face cap with lenses for mode selection and a locking mechanism that prevents disassembly without a tool, combined with a pivotable mount and detent arrangement for hands-free operation, ensuring safe and easy mode switching without compromising safety certifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional portable lights allow tool-free disassembly for battery replacement, then ease of operation is improved, but safety certification is compromised in hazardous environments
Solution Approach 1:
The light incorporates a tool-free battery replacement mechanism that is pre-designed and pre-assembled during manufacturing. The battery compartment is equipped with a release mechanism that allows users to open and replace batteries without tools, while safety certifications are obtained in advance for the complete assembled unit. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by enabling easy operation while maintaining certified safety standards.
2Adaptability or versatility
If portable lights include multiple operating modes with separate controls, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases making controls difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions into a single integrated control mechanism. Instead of separate controls for different operating modes, a single control element performs multiple functions including power on/off, mode selection, and beam pattern adjustment. This merging of controls reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptability across multiple operating modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control mechanism is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple operating modes and beam patterns through a single interface. The control element can selectively activate different light sources and adjust beam characteristics without requiring separate controls, making it easy to operate while providing versatile functionality.
3Ease of operation
If head lights require removal from head to observe controls, then ease of operation is worsened, but device complexity for integrated controls is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is positioned and designed to be accessible from multiple dimensions and angles. The control element is located on the exterior surface of the light housing in a position that allows operation while the light remains mounted on the user's head. This spatial arrangement enables control accessibility without requiring removal of the light, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable light may comprise: a light housing having housing parts for enclosing a source of electrical power and supporting an electrical light source, a slide latch slidable on the light housing parts between latched and unlatched positions; a projection proximate the slide latch when the housing parts are adjacent; wherein when the slide latch is moved to the latched position, separation of the housing parts is prevented, and wherein when the slide latch is moved to the unlatched position, the housing parts can be separated. A tool may be needed to open the housing.