Safety Lock Catch With Thumb Wheel to Prevent Accidental Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock catches, such as swivel snap hooks, are prone to accidental opening due to external forces, leading to potential safety hazards like pets falling off or equipment detachment during use in applications like pet restraint and climbing.
Innovation Solution
A safety lock catch design featuring a lock body, lock bolt, force component, and thumb wheel, where the lock bolt has two positions and is kept in the closed position by a force component, requiring deliberate operation to open, with additional features like anti-slip surfaces and magnetic blocks to enhance stability and prevent accidental opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a protruding latch handle is provided for manual operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to accidental opening by external forces
Solution Approach 1:
A thumb wheel is introduced as an intermediary component between the external environment and the locking mechanism. The thumb wheel engages with the lock bolt to provide manual operation, while its rotational design and engagement mechanism prevent direct external forces from acting on the latch handle, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the latch handle protrude outward for easy operation (conventional design), the design inverts the approach by using a thumb wheel that rotates to engage with the lock bolt. This inversion protects the locking mechanism from external forces while maintaining ease of operation through rotational movement
2Ease of manufacture
If the lock structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a lock body, a lock bolt, a thumb wheel, and a force component. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured separately using standard processes while combining to create a reliable system that resists external forces, balancing ease of manufacture with improved reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The safety lock catch effectively prevents accidental opening and ensures a secure connection, reducing the risk of equipment or pet detachment, thereby enhancing safety in various applications.
Implementation Method 1
The force component is used to keep the lock bolt in the first position under normal conditions
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic block, wherein the magnetic block is attracted to the mounting portion by a magnetic force
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a safety lock catch, which comprises a lock body, a lock bolt, a force component and a thumb wheel; the lock body comprises a mounting portion and a hook portion, the hook portion has a first end and a second end, the first end is connected with the mounting portion, the second end is bent toward the mounting portion and there is a gap between the second end and the mounting portion, and a chamber is provided in the mounting portion; The thumb wheel is pivotally connected with the mounting portion, the thumb wheel is engaged with the lock bolt, and the lock bolt can be moved from the first position to the second position by the drive under the thumb wheel. The safety lock catch provided by the invention is not easy to fall off when used, and has better safety.