Child Safety Weapon Lock with Radial Lever and Detent Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child safety weapon locks are not effectively resistant to disengagement by children and can allow trigger movement even when locked, hindering quick access for authorized adults while failing to prevent unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
A safety apparatus comprising a detent housing, a locking shaft assembly, and a radial lever, which requires specific adult dexterity to disengage, including depressing a detent button, compressing the housing, and rotating it to unlock, while preventing children from accessing the trigger due to its design that requires simultaneous actions beyond their capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a key or simple device is used to remove the weapon lock, then quick access to the weapon is enabled, but the lock becomes vulnerable to disengagement by children or unauthorized users
Solution Approach 1:
The weapon lock is divided into multiple functional components: a locking shaft assembly with pawls and springs, a detent mechanism with buttons, and a trigger stop. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function while working together to provide both quick access for adults and child resistance through a multi-step disengagement process requiring coordinated actions of pressing buttons while rotating the shaft.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock requires preliminary actions to be performed in a specific sequence before the weapon can be accessed. Users must first press the detent buttons to disengage the locking mechanism, then rotate the locking shaft to release the trigger stop. This preliminary multi-step action sequence prevents accidental or unauthorized access by children while allowing quick deliberate access by adults who know the procedure.
2Reliability
If the lock is designed to be child-resistant with multiple disengagement steps, then unauthorized access is prevented, but quick access for authorized adults is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The locking shaft assembly incorporates springs that provide dynamic movement and feedback during the disengagement process. The pawls engage and disengage dynamically as the shaft rotates, and the detent buttons provide tactile feedback to guide the user through the unlocking sequence. This dynamic design makes the process intuitive for adults while maintaining child resistance through complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The detent mechanism with its buttons and the pawl-spring system act as intermediaries between the user's intent to unlock and the actual release of the trigger stop. These intermediary components require specific coordinated actions (pressing buttons while rotating) that serve as a cognitive filter, allowing quick access for those who know the procedure while blocking unauthorized access by children.
3Device complexity
If the lock allows some trigger movement (wiggle), then the locking mechanism remains simple, but accidental discharge may occur even when locked
Solution Approach 1:
The pawl-spring mechanism provides self-latching functionality that automatically secures the trigger stop in the locked position without requiring continuous user intervention. The springs maintain constant engagement force on the pawls, ensuring the trigger remains firmly held in place. This self-service locking action eliminates trigger wiggle and prevents accidental discharge while keeping the overall mechanism relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Child safety weapon locks are disclosed. The child safety weapon lock includes a detente housing, a locking shaft assembly, and a radial lever. The locking shaft assembly is engaged with the detente housing. The radial lever is engaged with the detente housing and selectively engaged with the locking shaft assembly. The radial lever selectively captures the locking shaft assembly between the radial lever and the detente housing.