Rekeyable Lock Cylinder with Adjustable Pin Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rekeyable lock cylinders in hotels and rental properties pose challenges in key management as guests can inadvertently rekey locks, leading to inconvenience for hotel owners, who need to ensure that valid keys can only open locks without rekeying capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A rekeyable lock cylinder design featuring a cylinder body, plug assembly with adjustable pins, and an adjusting member that creates a position difference between the tool-receiving hole and aligning cavity, allowing only valid keys to open locks without rekeying capability, while enabling rekeying via a control key.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lock cylinder is made rekeyable to allow guests to replace keys personally, then key management convenience is improved, but security control deteriorates as guests can execute rekeying processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating two distinct operational modes within the same lock cylinder: a normal locking mode accessible by valid keys, and a rekeying mode accessible only by control keys. The adjusting member is positioned to be accessible only through specific pin hole configurations, allowing rekeying functionality to be localized to authorized operations only.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamics by making the adjusting member movable within the plug body. The adjusting member can shift positions based on key insertion - remaining stationary for valid keys (preventing rekeying) and becoming accessible for control keys (enabling rekeying). This dynamic positioning controls whether the rekeying function is activated.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the adjusting member is made accessible to all keys, then rekeying capability is improved, but key functionality deteriorates as valid keys gain unintended rekeying ability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates local quality differences between valid keys and control keys through the adjusting member positioning. Valid keys interact only with the locking mechanism, while control keys can access the adjusting member through aligned pin holes. This spatial differentiation ensures that rekeying capability is localized to authorized control keys only.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting member serves as an intermediary element between the key and the rekeying mechanism. It mediates the interaction by being positioned to block access to the rekeying function for valid keys while allowing access for control keys. This intermediary controls whether the rekeying capability is activated based on key type.
3Measurement precision
If the adjusting member contacts both the first rack component and inside wall, then position difference is improved, but key management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting member performs self-service by automatically positioning itself through contact with both the first rack component and the inside wall. When the control key is inserted and rotated, the adjusting member shifts position through mechanical interaction with these two surfaces, creating the necessary position difference without requiring additional control mechanisms or complex key management procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A rekeyable lock cylinder comprises a cylinder body, a plug assembly disposed within the cylinder body and at least one adjusting member. The cylinder body has an inside wall, the plug assembly comprises a plug body having a plurality of pin holes and an opening, a plurality of assembled pins disposed within the pin holes of the plug body and a position block disposed in the plug body. Each of the assembled pins comprises a first rack component having an aligning cavity and a second rack component engaged with the first rack component. The position block has a plurality of pin runners served for disposing the first rack components and a tool-receiving hole corresponding to the opening. The adjusting member is movably disposed within one of the pin holes of the plug body and contacts against at least one first rack component and the inside wall of the cylinder body thereby forming a position difference between the tool-receiving hole and the aligning cavity.