Portable Device Lock with Segmented Engaging Members

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing locks for portable devices, such as laptop computers and tablet computers, face challenges in maintaining strength while being compact enough to fit these devices, often leading to vulnerability to excessive force.

Innovation Solution

The proposed lock design features a first engaging member with a unique geometric structure, including a front section and a rear section with different projecting angles, and a second engaging member that moves along or across the first engaging member to secure the lock within a cavity, enhancing mechanical strength and reducing production costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the size of the lock is reduced to fit portable devices, then the lock can be applied to laptop computers and mobile devices, but the strength of the lock degrades and it becomes easily broken or pulled open

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of the lockVSAvoidstrength of the lock

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging member is divided into multiple sections (first engaging member with front and rear sections, second engaging member) that can be inserted into the cavity separately. This segmentation allows the lock to maintain adequate strength through distributed structural elements while keeping the overall lock size compact for portable devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging members are designed with three-dimensional geometric structures featuring different projecting angles in front and rear sections. This dimensional optimization allows the lock to achieve enhanced mechanical strength through spatial configuration rather than simply increasing size, enabling the lock to resist excessive force while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for portable devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If the cross-sectional area of the engaging member is increased to improve strength, then the lock becomes stronger, but the lock size increases and cannot fit portable devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of the engaging memberVSAvoidsize of the lock

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging members feature non-uniform cross-sectional areas with different projecting angles in front and rear sections. This local quality variation optimizes strength distribution where needed while minimizing overall volume, allowing the lock to be strong enough to resist excessive force without being large enough to fit portable devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging members are designed with asymmetric geometric structures where the front section and rear section have different projecting angles and cross-sectional characteristics. This asymmetric design allows optimization of strength-to-volume ratio, providing adequate strength for portable device applications without excessive size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If the engaging members completely fill the cavity to maximize security, then the lock becomes more secure, but the geometric complexity increases and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of the lockVSAvoidgeometric complexity of the cavity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity is designed to receive multiple segmented engaging members (first and second engaging members) rather than a single complex piece. This segmentation simplifies the geometric requirements of individual components and their corresponding cavity sections, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining security through multiple engagement points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging members are designed with geometric structures that can be inserted into corresponding cavity sections with different projecting angles. This universal design approach allows the same basic component geometry to accommodate various cavity configurations, reducing production complexity while ensuring reliable locking through proper geometric matching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12221814B2Lock for securing a portable device

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 INGAMAR

AI summary

A lock for securing a portable device is disclosed. The lock can be inserted into a cavity. The cavity has a first sidewall and a second sidewall both of which extend away from an opening into the cavity with a gradually increasing distance between the two sidewalls for a section of the two sidewalls. The lock for securing a portable device comprises a lock body; a first engaging member projecting from the lock body and having an outside part outside the lock body, a cross-sectional area of the outside part of the first engaging member being substantially the same or become larger from a front end towards a rear end of the outside part of the first engaging member; and a second engaging member, connected to the lock body and configured to move along a side of or across the first engaging member to insert into the cavity for a locking status and to withdraw from the cavity for an unlocking status.