How does the child safety lock on a drawer work?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanism of a child safety lock on a drawer and the design of a one-directional rotation mechanism without using a ratchet and pawl. The scope includes mechanical design concepts and practical applications in engineering.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a drawer mechanism that requires pressing a button to open, seeking to understand the underlying mechanism.
  • Another participant requests more specific information about the drawer's context, such as its location and contents, suggesting it may relate to an engineering assignment.
  • A participant identifies the mechanism as potentially a child safety lock, proposing that it may involve a lever that disengages when the button is pressed.
  • Alternative mechanisms are mentioned, such as magnetic latches, which operate by pressing to release and then allowing the drawer to open.
  • One participant expresses difficulty in finding a design solution that avoids ratchet and pawl, suggesting a micro version using angled brushes and ridges as a possible approach.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various ideas about the drawer mechanism, with some proposing specific mechanisms while others seek clarification and additional context. No consensus is reached on the design of a one-directional rotation mechanism without ratchet and pawl.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to specific mechanical concepts such as levers, magnetic latches, and potential design constraints, but lacks detailed definitions or established solutions.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in mechanical design, engineering students, and those exploring child safety mechanisms in furniture may find this discussion relevant.

pikachoo
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recently, i saw this drawer where you have to press something on a part of the drawer then you can take the things inside the drawer. if not, it is impossible to open the drawer.

May I know what kind of mechanism is behind it?

secondly anyone got any idea on how to design a mechanism that allows rotation in one direction and CAN’T use ratchet & pawl cause i really got no diea on how to start this... (there is not any fixed answer, it should be quite brief and simplified)

Thanks :D
 
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Can you give more specific info on the drawer. Was is part of a desk? in the kitchen? a bedroom dresser? under a car seat?

What kinds of things were placed in it?

Is this an assignment for an engineering mechanics class?
 
i foudn this drawer in my school lab, where we keep all those tools beside the machine.
basically, just hold a button and then you can open the drawer..this is an assignment under introduction to engineering. somehow a bit of mechanics caused we were taught cams,belts all this to start with it but i really got no idea what to use...
 
sounds like our drawer has a child safety lock on it. It may work using a lever where pressing the button disengages the lever from the drawer sliding mechanism allowing you to pull it open.

Another mechanism I've seen are magnetic latches where you press once to pop the latch and you can open the door. Pressing the door closed pushes the latch in and the magnet holds it shut.

As far as not using a ratchet and pawl, I couldn't think of anything nor find anything online. PErhaps using angled brushes surrounding the rod and some ridges on the rod but that's just a micro version of a ratchet and pawl.
 

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