Twistable Cable Lock Structure to Protect Zipper Pull Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable locks with twistable cables can snap zipper pull tabs during luggage transportation due to their rigidity, especially when the housing is tossed around, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A cable lock design featuring a housing with wide and narrow holes, a twistable cable with specific sections that form an X-shape, and a combination of lock mechanisms to prevent excessive force on zipper pull tabs, reducing the likelihood of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a twistable cable with considerable rigidity is used to lock luggage, then the lock provides secure locking capability, but the cable may snap the zipper pull tabs during transportation when the housing is tossed around
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a rigid section for locking capability and a flexible section for absorbing twisting forces. This segmentation allows the cable to maintain strength while reducing harm to the zipper pull tabs during transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable's flexibility parameter is changed by introducing a flexible section with different material properties than the rigid section. This parameter change allows the cable to adapt to housing movements without snapping the zipper pull tabs, while maintaining adequate locking strength.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cable is made more flexible to prevent snapping zipper pull tabs, then the harm to zipper pull tabs is reduced, but the locking capability and security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a rigid section for locking capability and a flexible section for absorbing twisting forces. This segmentation allows the cable to maintain strength while reducing harm to the zipper pull tabs during transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible section acts as an intermediary between the rigid locking mechanism and the external environment. It absorbs twisting forces and housing movements, protecting the zipper pull tabs while allowing the rigid section to maintain locking capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cable is allowed to twist freely to accommodate housing movements, then the cable can adapt to transportation conditions, but excessive twisting may still damage the zipper pull tabs
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible section acts as an intermediary between the rigid locking mechanism and the external environment. It absorbs twisting forces and housing movements, protecting the zipper pull tabs while allowing the rigid section to maintain locking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable's flexibility parameter is changed by introducing a flexible section with different material properties than the rigid section. This parameter change allows the cable to adapt to housing movements without snapping the zipper pull tabs, while maintaining adequate locking strength.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a cable lock with a cable capable of being twisted into an X-shape cross state and remains in that state. In addition, the cable lock further includes a combination lock mechanism, an elastic member and a key lock mechanism. The elastic member includes a plurality of arc-shape elastic sheets engaging with multiple dials of the combination lock mechanism. The key lock mechanism includes a blocking portion and a push portion. When the key lock mechanism is unlocked, the blocking portion leaves from blocking a lower-section of the cable, and the push portion pushes the lower-section to move.