Ambidextrous Mortise Lock Reversible Rod Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional door locks lack flexibility as they are not reversible without complicating and expanding the activating mechanism, making them unsuitable for changing sides without increasing the number of components.

Innovation Solution

An ambidextrous mortise door lock design featuring a translatable latch and bolt with reversible rods, synchronized oscillating mechanisms, and a minimal number of components, allowing easy adaptation to left- or right-opening doors using a single set of activating cylinders and handle followers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional door locks are designed to be non-reversible, then the structure is simple, but the flexibility of use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of useVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lock mechanism is designed with universal functionality to operate on both left-opening and right-opening doors using the same basic structure. The oscillating organ can oscillate in two opposite directions around a vertical axis, allowing the single lock to adapt to different door configurations without requiring multiple specialized components or complex reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the activating mechanism is multiplied to enable side changing, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity and cost worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside changing capabilityVSAvoidnumber of elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple activating mechanisms into a single oscillating organ that can operate in two opposite directions. Instead of using separate mechanisms for left-opening and right-opening doors, the oscillating organ combines both functions by oscillating clockwise for one direction and counter-clockwise for the other, thereby reducing the total number of elements while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a single oscillating organ is used for both directions, then the device complexity reduces, but the reliability of synchronization must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidsynchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The oscillating organ serves itself by inherently providing synchronized operation for both rods through its single oscillation motion. When the oscillating organ rotates in one direction, it simultaneously and synchronously actuates both the first rod and second rod without requiring additional synchronization mechanisms. The single oscillation source naturally ensures both rods move in coordination, maintaining reliability while minimizing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2484851B1An ambidextrous mortise door lock
Publication Date: 2014.10.22 ISEO SERRATURE
  • EP2484851B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2484851B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2484851B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The ambidextrous mortise door lock comprises, internally of a case (2) of the lock, at least a translatable latch (10), at least a translatable bolt (8), and a first and a second rod (11, 12) translatable in opposite directions transversally to a translation direction of the bolt (8) and the latch (10) between an unblocked position of the door, in which the first and second rods (11, 12) are retracted towards an inside of the case (2), and a blocked position of the door, in which they are protracted towards outside the case (2), a first hole in the case destined to house a first activating cylinder of the latch (10) and the bolt (8) for a right-opening or respectively a left-opening door, a second hole in the case (2) destined to house a second activating cylinder of the latch (10) and the bolt (8) for a left-opening or respectively a right-opening door, a first handle follower (16) to the right or respectively to the left for commanding a first oscillating organ (17) and a first oscillating lever (18) for retracting the latch (10), a second handle follower (20) to the left or respectively to the right for commanding a second oscillating organ (21) and a second oscillating lever (22) for retracting the latch (10), and synchronising means of the oscillation of the first and second oscillating organ (17, 21) and transformation of said synchronised oscillation into a synchronised translation in an opposite direction of said first and second rod (11, 12) between the blocked position and the unblocked position.