Recessed Padlock Body for Suitcase Locking Security

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional locking devices for containers, such as suitcases and trunks, suffer from exposed parts that can be vulnerable to break-ins, noisy and unwanted movements, and a design that does not harmonize with the container, compromising security and aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

A locking device with a recessed main body that accommodates the fastening bar and edges, preventing external access and oscillations, and a polyhedral shape that blends with the container's design, ensuring secure, stable, and aesthetically pleasing locking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a padlock with a bar is used to lock the half-shells, then the container can be secured against break-ins, but parts of the bar remain exposed and accessible from outside, offering vulnerability to forced entry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against break-inVSAvoidexposed bar parts vulnerable to forced entry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bar is nested within a recess in the padlock body, with the recess walls enclosing the bar from external access. This nesting arrangement allows the bar to remain functional for locking while being protected from direct exposure to external forces or tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The recess acts as an intermediary structure between the bar and the external environment. It provides a protective barrier that prevents direct access to the bar while still allowing the bar to perform its locking function through the recess opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the bar is inserted in the slots to lock the container, then the container is secured, but the padlock performs small oscillations and movements which are noisy and potentially capable of scuffing and scratching the half-shells

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking functionVSAvoidnoisy oscillations and potential damage to half-shells

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The padlock body is nested within a recess in the container, with the recess providing a stable mounting structure. This nesting arrangement eliminates oscillations and movements of the padlock, preventing noise and potential damage to the container surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the padlock being attached to the container in the conventional manner, the container is attached to the padlock through the recess. This inverted arrangement provides stability and prevents the padlock from oscillating or moving during locking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the padlock protrudes significantly from the profile of the half-shells, then the locking function is achieved, but the risk of unwanted impacts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking capabilityVSAvoidrisk of unwanted impacts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The padlock is nested within the recess of the container, creating a flush or recessed appearance. This eliminates significant protrusion and reduces the risk of unwanted impacts while maintaining the locking function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Reliability

If a conventional padlock shape is used, then the locking function is provided, but the padlock has shapes and lines that are completely dissonant with respect to those of the container, compromising the pleasantness of the overall appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking functionVSAvoidaesthetic harmony with container

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The padlock body is designed with specific local qualities that match the container's aesthetic. The recess shape and padlock geometry are tailored to harmonize with the container's design language, creating visual coherence while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2511457B1Locking device, particularly for containers of the type of suitcases, trunks and the like

Publication Date: 2014.01.15 G T LINE

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

A locking device, particularly for containers (2) of the type of suitcases, trunks and the like that have a pair of mutually articulated half-shells (3). The device (1) comprises at least one padlock (4) provided with a main body (5) and a fastening bar (6), which can be inserted in mutually facing slots (7) provided in respective raised edges (8) arranged correspondingly on each one of the half-shells (3) to determine stable locking of the container (2) in the closure configuration. The main body (5) of the padlock (4) has a recess (9), which is delimited at least partially by a back wall (5a) constituted by a part of the body (5). The recess (9) is adapted to accommodate respective portions of the edges (8), which comprise the slots (7), and at least the part of the bar (6) that is inserted therein, in order to substantially cover the coupling region between the bar (6) and the edges (8), by means of the back wall (5a), and to prevent access thereto by third parties.