Wordlock
Encyclopedia
Wordlock is a brand of combination lock
s, made by Wordlock, Inc., that differs from traditional combination locks
in that it has letters on its dials instead of numbers. This allows the combination to be a four-letter or five-letter word or name, similar to a password, and therefore potentially easier to remember
than a series of digits. Wordlocks come in luggage locks, bike locks, padlocks, cable locks and commercial locks.
created the first word combination lock in the 13th Century. The idea never caught on in the west, however, until Todd Basche, former Vice President of Software Applications at Apple Inc., invented the modern word lock in 2004. He and Rahn Basche founded Wordlock, Inc. in 2007 in Santa Clara, California
, USA. Todd’s patented Wordlock algorithm
maximizes the number of four-letter and five-letter words that can be spelled on the Wordlock dials.
Wordlock won the Staples Inc. Invention Quest in 2004 and “Top 100 New Inventions” distinction at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Invent Now America
competition in 2008.
Each ring rotates independently of the others, yielding a possible 105 (or 100,000) different combination
s. Wordlock contains one blank space on the fifth dial to make four letter words. About 2000 words are possible as combinations. However, this 2000 word figure does not include the many possibilities for quasi-words (BLATS or WOOT); certain names (DILAN or MOSES); and acronyms, foreign words or gibberish known only to the lock owner.
Combination lock
A combination lock is a type of lock in which a sequence of numbers or symbols is used to open the lock. The sequence may be entered using a single rotating dial which interacts with several discs or cams, by using a set of several rotating discs with inscribed numerals which directly interact with...
s, made by Wordlock, Inc., that differs from traditional combination locks
Lock (device)
A lock is a mechanical or electronic fastening device that is released by a physical object or secret information , or combination of more than one of these....
in that it has letters on its dials instead of numbers. This allows the combination to be a four-letter or five-letter word or name, similar to a password, and therefore potentially easier to remember
Remember
-Music:* "Remember" , a song by Irving Berlin* Remember, a song featured in an episode of Danny Phantom* "Remember ", a 1964 single by the Shangri-Las* "Remember", a song by the Jimi Hendrix Experience...
than a series of digits. Wordlocks come in luggage locks, bike locks, padlocks, cable locks and commercial locks.
History
The ChineseChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
created the first word combination lock in the 13th Century. The idea never caught on in the west, however, until Todd Basche, former Vice President of Software Applications at Apple Inc., invented the modern word lock in 2004. He and Rahn Basche founded Wordlock, Inc. in 2007 in Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
, USA. Todd’s patented Wordlock algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
maximizes the number of four-letter and five-letter words that can be spelled on the Wordlock dials.
Wordlock won the Staples Inc. Invention Quest in 2004 and “Top 100 New Inventions” distinction at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Invent Now America
Invent Now America
Invent Now America is an annual event hosted by the National Inventors Hall of Fame in conjunction with the United States Patent & Trademark Office , Time Magazine and The History Channel...
competition in 2008.
Possible combinations
The five-ring Wordlock contains 10 letters per ring as follows:| Ring 1 | Ring 2 | Ring 3 | Ring 4 | Ring 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | O | R | D | S |
| B | R | I | A | N |
| P | I | L | O | T |
| F | L | A | S | H |
| M | C | N | K | Y |
| D | E | U | N | D |
| T | T | T | R | |
| A | N | O | T | E |
| L | A | S | E | R |
| S | P | E | L | L |
Each ring rotates independently of the others, yielding a possible 105 (or 100,000) different combination
Combination
In mathematics a combination is a way of selecting several things out of a larger group, where order does not matter. In smaller cases it is possible to count the number of combinations...
s. Wordlock contains one blank space on the fifth dial to make four letter words. About 2000 words are possible as combinations. However, this 2000 word figure does not include the many possibilities for quasi-words (BLATS or WOOT); certain names (DILAN or MOSES); and acronyms, foreign words or gibberish known only to the lock owner.