Receptacle Attachment Locking for Secure Mounting and Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices and apparatuses face challenges when being installed or removed from difficult-to-access locations, such as narrow spaces that are beyond human reach, requiring innovative solutions to facilitate secure mounting and easy detachment without causing damage.
Innovation Solution
An attachment apparatus with a main housing and a stop mechanism that can transition between actuated and de-actuated states, allowing for secure locking and easy detachment by applying a de-actuation force, utilizing a de-actuation mechanism to overcome frictional retention forces and allow for safe removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a device is securely mounted to a surface using frictional retention forces, then the reliability of the mounting is improved, but the ease of operation for detachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stop mechanism transitions between actuated and de-actuated states, dynamically changing the retention characteristics. When actuated, it provides strong frictional retention for reliable mounting; when de-actuated, it releases the retention forces to enable easy detachment. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction between secure mounting and easy removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the frictional retention parameter by transitioning the stop mechanism between states. In the actuated state, high friction provides reliable mounting; in the de-actuated state, low friction enables easy detachment. This parameter change allows the same interface to provide both secure mounting and simple removal.
2Reliability
If a stop mechanism is used to impede withdrawal movement, then the reliability of the mounting is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop mechanism automatically transitions between actuated and de-actuated states based on the insertion and withdrawal movements. During insertion, it self-actuates to provide secure mounting; during withdrawal, it self-de-actuates to enable removal. This self-service behavior reduces the need for additional control mechanisms, minimizing added complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a de-actuation mechanism is added to allow easy removal, then the ease of operation for detachment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The de-actuation mechanism is merged with the stop mechanism, combining their functions into a single integrated component. The stop mechanism's structure itself enables both the retention function and the de-actuation function, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If frictional retention forces are used to hold the device, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of the mounting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment interface combines frictional retention (simple manufacturing) with a stop mechanism (enhanced reliability). The composite approach uses both frictional forces and mechanical stopping action to achieve reliable mounting while maintaining ease of manufacture, as the stop mechanism can be integrated into existing friction-based attachment designs.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (100) for attaching to a support surface (112, 122) by means of a receptacle (179) mounted in the support surface (112, 122). The apparatus (100) comprises attachment means for attaching to the receptacle (179), engagement means for making frictional engagement with the receptacle (179), a stop mechanism to prevent detachment of the apparatus (100) from the receptacle (179), and a de-actuation mechanism to de-actuate the stop mechanism to allow detachment of the apparatus (100) in a withdrawal direction by overcoming frictional retention forces.