Latch Assembly With Spring-Biased Clasp Lever
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latch assemblies for transportation containers often require excessive force to engage and disengage, leading to user fatigue and do not efficiently adapt to various operating environments.
Innovation Solution
A latch assembly design featuring a closing panel with a tab and a pivotally attached clasp lever, incorporating an incessant force component like a helical spring, which reduces the force needed for engagement and disengagement while maintaining security through an ergonomic design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional one-piece latch designs are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but excessive force is required to engage and disengage the latch
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is divided into multiple components: a closing panel with a tab, a pivotally attached clasp lever, and an incessant force component (spring). This segmentation allows the spring to provide biasing force that reduces the effort needed to operate the latch, while the modular structure maintains manageable complexity through functional decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The clasp lever is designed to pivot dynamically between engaged and disengaged positions. The incessant force component provides continuous biasing force that assists the user during operation, transforming the static one-piece structure into a dynamic system with assisted motion that reduces operational force requirements
2Ease of operation
If traditional latch designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but user fatigue increases due to excessive operational force
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the latch into manufacturable components (closing panel, clasp lever, spring), each part can be manufactured using standard processes and then assembled. The spring component provides the force assistance needed to reduce user fatigue, while the overall assembly remains suitable for efficient manufacturing through modular construction
Solution Approach 2:
The incessant force component (spring) acts as an intermediary that mediates between the user's input force and the latch engagement/disengagement action. This intermediary component provides mechanical assistance to reduce the force required by the user, improving comfort without significantly complicating the manufacturing process
3Reliability
If latch assemblies provide firm engagement and withstand operating environment stresses, then security is maintained, but the force required to operate the latch increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch system uses dynamic pivotal motion of the clasp lever combined with the incessant biasing force of the spring to achieve secure engagement with reduced operational force. The spring maintains constant pressure to ensure firm engagement while assisting the user during the pivoting motion, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation
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 latch assembly requires less force to engage and disengage, minimizing user fatigue and ensuring security across a range of conditions, with the ergonomic design allowing natural gestures for easy operation.
Implementation Method 1
An incessant force component is disposed within the space between a rear sidewall of the closing panel tab and a rear inner sidewall of the clasp lever and biases the clasp lever to a neutral position with respect to the closing panel
Data Source
AI summary
A latch assembly includes a closing panel having an end with a closing panel tab extending therefrom. A clasp lever is pivotally attached to the end of closing panel and forms a space into which the closing panel tab extends. Inner peripheral sidewalls of the clasp lever forming the space allow the clasp lever to rotate around outer peripheral sidewalls of the closing panel tab when the clasp lever pivots around the end of the closing panel. An incessant force component is disposed within the space between the closing panel tab and a rear inner sidewall of the clasp lever and biases the clasp lever to a neutral position with respect to the closing panel. A force applied to an outer surface of the clasp lever against the bias causes the clasp lever to pivot around the end of the closing panel from the neutral position.