Adjustable Strike Plate Assembly for Latch Alignment and Seal Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional strike plates lack adjustability, leading to latch misalignment and improper weather seal compression due to assembly errors, installation issues, or building settling, resulting in environmental infiltration and increased door closing force.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable strike plate assembly with a base plate that can be laterally moved within a mortise pocket to widen or narrow the aperture, featuring a top plate with adjustable mounting holes and a roller to reduce friction, allowing for precise alignment and reduced door closing force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed aperture strike plate is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but latch misalignment occurs and adjustment is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The strike plate transitions from a fixed aperture design to a dynamic, adjustable aperture design. The base plate can be laterally moved within the mortise pocket to adjust the aperture position, allowing the strike plate to adapt to misalignment conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The strike plate is divided into separable components: a base plate that can move independently within the mortise pocket, and a strike plate portion that remains fixed. This segmentation allows the aperture to be adjusted by moving only the base plate, maintaining simplicity while enabling adaptability.
2Force
If a fixed aperture edge is used, then the manufacturing precision is maintained, but door panel closing force increases due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed aperture edge is replaced with a movable base plate that can be adjusted laterally. This dynamic adjustment allows the aperture to be positioned optimally to reduce friction between the latch and the aperture edge, thereby reducing closing force while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the strike plate is made adjustable, then alignment accuracy is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strike plate is segmented into a base plate and a strike plate portion, where only the base plate requires adjustment during installation. This segmentation simplifies the installation process compared to adjusting the entire strike plate assembly, while still achieving improved alignment precision through base plate positioning.
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 solution ensures proper alignment and weather seal compression, preventing environmental infiltration and reducing door closing force by allowing for adjustable installation to accommodate settling and misalignment issues.
Implementation Method 1
The base plate may include a roller for reducing friction when a latch of a door panel is moved into a closed position.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for a strike plate for a door frame member and/or assembly is shown and described. The invention may be considered a strike plate assembly and, in other embodiments, a lock strike plate with and adjustable aperture. The strike plate may fit within a mortise pocket on a door member of a door frame. The invention may include an adjustable base plate and a top plate. In some examples, the strike plate may include a first horizontally extended linear opening. The strike plate assembly may be selectively positionable within the mortise pocket to facilitate lateral adjustability of an interior space within an interior aperture by movement of at least a portion of the strike plate laterally.