Ultra-Thin Latch Structure With Linear-to-Pivot Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latches occupy significant space and have multiple components, making them unsuitable for modern applications requiring minimal space and reduced complexity.
Innovation Solution
A latch design with a housing, locking member, and operating member that allows for minimal space occupation and reduced components, featuring a pivoting mechanism converted from longitudinal movement, and elastic members for biasing positions, with recessed portions for component integration and symmetry for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a latch includes a movable component capable of rotating or moving to perform locking and releasing, then the latch can achieve proper locking function, but the latch occupies significant active space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking member and operating member into a single integrated component that performs both locking and operating functions. The locking member includes both the locking portion and the operating portion, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing the overall space required while maintaining full locking functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional rotational movement to longitudinal linear movement for the locking member. The locking member moves back and forth along the longitudinal direction within a confined space, achieving locking and releasing functions without requiring the rotational arc space traditionally needed, thus significantly reducing the active space occupied
2Volume of moving object
If a latch is designed to occupy minimal space, then the latch can meet ultra-low space requirements, but the structure becomes more complex with more components
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides both the locking function (through the locking portion) and the operating function (through the operating portion). This merging of functions reduces the number of components while maintaining space-efficient design
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as both the locking element and the operating element. The same component that locks the latch also performs the unlocking operation through its operating portion, eliminating the need for separate actuating mechanisms and simplifying the overall structure
Data Source
AI summary
A latch for releasably locking a first object to a second object is disclosed. The latch includes: a housing, fixed to the first object; a locking member, accommodated in the housing and pivotable between a locked position and an unlocked position in respect to the housing along a lateral axis, when the locking member is located in the locked position, its locking portions are capable of extending from the housing, and when the locking member is in the unlocked position, its locking portions retract into the housing; an operating member, at least partially accommodated in the housing, the operating member is capable of performing a longitudinal movement between a first position and a second position in respect to the housing, and a direction of the longitudinal movement is substantially perpendicular to the lateral axis; wherein the operating member is coupled with the locking member, such that a movement of the operating member is capable of being converted into a pivoting movement of the locking member, when the operating member moves longitudinally forward from the first position to the second position, the locking member is pivoted from the locked position to the unlocked position. A locking structure is also disclosed.