Adjustable Push Rod Connector for Compact Door Lock Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing push rod connectors for door or window sashes require complex structures, increased space, and high design effort due to multiple components and toothed engagement parts, making length adjustments cumbersome and space-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A push rod connector with separately designed connector parts that overlap along a longitudinal direction, allowing for adjustable length adjustment by a fastening element, and featuring contact surfaces with profiles for secure alignment and a compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If toothed engagement parts and multiple components are used to connect push rods, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is divided into two separate connector parts (first connector part and second connector part) that can be independently adjusted and connected to adjacent push rods, allowing for simplified individual components while maintaining overall connection reliability through modular assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connector parts overlap along a longitudinal direction rather than requiring transverse space for toothed engagement, enabling length adjustment in the longitudinal dimension while maintaining a compact transverse profile that reduces space requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If toothed engagement parts are used for length adjustment, then the adaptability is improved, but the area occupied transverse to the longitudinal direction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelength adjustment capabilityVSAvoidtransverse area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Length adjustment is achieved by displacing connector parts relative to each other along the longitudinal direction of the push rods, eliminating the need for transverse space that would be required by toothed engagement mechanisms, thus maintaining adaptability while reducing transverse area occupation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The two connector parts overlap along the longitudinal direction, with one connector part positioned within or adjacent to the other, creating a nested or compact arrangement that minimizes the overall transverse footprint while maintaining length adjustment capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple components and toothed engagement parts are used, then the connection stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and design effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is segmented into two separate connector parts that can be manufactured independently using standard manufacturing processes, reducing the complexity of manufacturing complex multi-component assemblies while maintaining connection stability through simple fastening elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connector uses simple fastening elements instead of complex toothed engagement parts, prioritizing ease of manufacture and assembly over highly specialized components, achieving adequate connection stability through straightforward fastening mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4413224B1Push rod connector, and door or window arrangement
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 GRETSCH UNITAS GMBH BAUBESCHLAGFABRIK
  • EP4413224B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4413224B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4413224B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5c

AI summary

The invention relates to a push rod connector (10) for connecting adjacent push rods (104, 106) of a door leaf or window leaf (100), comprising a first connector part (12), a second connector part (14) and a fastening element (16) for fastening the connector parts (12, 14) together, wherein: the push rod connector (10) is designed to be separate from the adjacent push rods (104, 106); the connector parts (12, 14) overlap in a longitudinal direction (18) and, when the fastening element (16) is released, can move between a retracted position and an extended position relative to each other in order to longitudinally adjust the push rod connector (10); and the connector parts (12, 14), when the fastening element (16) is tightened, are fixed relative to each other in the longitudinal direction (18) such that a longitudinal adjustment of the push rod connector (10) achieved by moving the connector parts (12, 14) relative to each other is retained.