Wiregate Carabiner Pin Lock for Secure Gate Closure

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional carabiners, especially wiregate carabiners, lack a means to lock the gate closed, leading to potential inadvertent opening during climbs or falls, compromising safety due to inertial forces and vibration, and existing locking mechanisms add bulk, weight, and cost, limiting their use in quickdraw configurations.

Innovation Solution

A spring-loaded pin mechanism coaxially mounted in the carabiner body locks the wiregate carabiner gate closed automatically and can be easily unlocked with one hand, adding minimal weight and bulk, and is less prone to jamming by contamination or manufacturing issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking mechanism is added to the wiregate carabiner, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegate securityVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking pin is nested within the gate structure itself, with the pin being a component of the gate assembly rather than a separate mechanism. The pin is received by a cavity in the carabiner body and works in conjunction with the gate's inherent spring mechanism, eliminating the need for additional external locking components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism utilizes the gate's own spring force to automatically engage the locking pin when the gate closes. The spring that normally keeps the gate closed also provides the force to push the pin into the locked position, eliminating the need for a separate power source or additional springs for the locking function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a locking mechanism is added to the wiregate carabiner, then the reliability is improved, but the weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegate securityVSAvoidcarabiner weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking pin is nested within the gate structure itself, with the pin being a component of the gate assembly rather than a separate mechanism. The pin is received by a cavity in the carabiner body and works in conjunction with the gate's inherent spring mechanism, eliminating the need for additional external locking components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism utilizes the gate's own spring force to automatically engage the locking pin when the gate closes. The spring that normally keeps the gate closed also provides the force to push the pin into the locked position, eliminating the need for a separate power source or additional springs for the locking function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If a locking mechanism is added to the wiregate carabiner, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegate securityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The locking pin is nested within the gate structure itself, with the pin being a component of the gate assembly rather than a separate mechanism. The pin is received by a cavity in the carabiner body and works in conjunction with the gate's inherent spring mechanism, eliminating the need for additional external locking components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism utilizes the gate's own spring force to automatically engage the locking pin when the gate closes. The spring that normally keeps the gate closed also provides the force to push the pin into the locked position, eliminating the need for a separate power source or additional springs for the locking function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 mechanism securely locks the carabiner gate closed, reducing the risk of inadvertent opening and enhancing safety without increasing weight or bulk, allowing for easy one-handed operation and reduced manufacturing costs.

Implementation Method 1

A spring loaded pin blocks the closed gate's opening path at the location where the gate's opening end engages the carabiner body. The spring serves to normally position the pin so that a portion of the pin protrudes into the opening path of the gate thereby blocking its movement.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

A spring loaded pin blocks the closed gate's opening path at the location where the gate's opening end engages the carabiner body. The spring serves to normally position the pin so that a portion of the pin protrudes into the opening path of the gate thereby blocking its movement.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS11585370B1Pin lock carabiner

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 CHRISTIANSON TONY

AI summary

A spring loaded pin blocks the closed gate's opening path at the location where the gate's opening end engages the carabiner body. The spring serves to normally position the pin so that a portion of the pin protrudes into the opening path of the gate thereby blocking its movement. An open gate pushes the pin aside as it closes. Alternately, the spring can be replaced with a friction member that holds the pin either locked or unlocked when the gate is closed. The gate is unlocked by using a finger to manually push the pin out of the path of the gate end. Although ideally incorporated on wiregate carabiners, the inventive locking mechanism can also be adapted to block the opening end of both straight and bent rigid gate carabiners.