Sliding Key-Ring With Spring-Loaded Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing key-rings are often bulky, costly to produce, and lack simplicity in design, making them difficult to use and unsafe for storing multiple objects.
Innovation Solution
A key-ring design featuring two slidably mounted rings with mutual engagement members, such as springs, bars, toothing, and elastic tabs, that allow for stable open and closed configurations, ensuring secure storage while maintaining a compact and user-friendly structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional key-ring structures are used, then production cost and structural complexity increase, but simplicity and compactness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The key-ring is divided into two separate rings (first ring and second ring) that can slide relative to each other. Each ring has its own open sector, allowing independent manipulation and attachment of objects. This segmentation simplifies the overall structure while maintaining functionality, making the design more compact and easier to manufacture compared to traditional single-piece key-rings with complex locking mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If traditional key-ring structures are used, then structural complexity increases, but ease of use deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The key-ring employs dynamic sliding rings that can move freely along the circumferential direction. The rings transition between open and closed configurations through simple sliding motion rather than complex locking mechanisms. This dynamic design allows users to easily open and close the key-ring by sliding the rings, significantly improving ease of use while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Volume of moving object
If rings are made compact, then storage safety decreases, but compactness improves
Solution Approach 1:
The second ring is positioned within the C-shaped cross-section of the first ring, creating a nested configuration. When the rings are in the closed position, the nested structure provides multiple layers of containment for attached objects, enhancing storage safety. The compact nested design maintains a small overall volume while the interlocking nature of the nested rings ensures objects remain securely held.
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 key-ring achieves a constructively simple, non-bulky design that is easy to use and ensures maximum safety for storing objects, with the ability to maintain closed configurations stably and return to them automatically.
Implementation Method 1
said spring acts against the sliding of the bar portion within the seat, stably defining said closed loop configuration. In the event that either said first or second ring is rotated to achieve the open ring configuration, the aforesaid spring tends to push the bar portion against the second end wall of said seat, recalling the ring into the closed ring configuration.
Implementation Method 2
The toothing and the elastic tabs are configured to allow the sliding of either the first or the second ring with respect to the other in one direction only, and to lock the key-ring both in the open ring configuration and in the closed ring configuration.
Implementation Method 3
a pair of elastic tabs arranged within a groove obtained along an upper wall of the first ring
Data Source
AI summary
A key-ring included a first and a second ring slidably mounted relative to each other in a circumferential direction. The key-ring includes mutual engagement members configured to define a reference for an open ring configuration and/or a closed ring configuration.