Angular Travel Converter for Cremone Bolt Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cremone locking/unlocking devices for sliding doors and windows face issues such as obstructiveness, ergonomic concerns, risk of damage, and limited opening space due to horizontal handles, and existing solutions are either costly or complex in design.

Innovation Solution

A control device with an angular travel converter featuring a cylindrical support with arcuate slots and coupling means, allowing the actuating shaft to rotate through a 90-degree inactive stroke before activating the cremone bolt, providing mechanical robustness and shear resistance, and enabling a usual striking handle to be used without obstructiveness or ergonomic issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a horizontal handle is used for cremone locking/unlocking devices on sliding doors, then the locking mechanism can be operated, but the handle becomes visually or physically obstructive and creates ergonomic issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle operationVSAvoidobstructiveness and ergonomic problems
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the orientation of the handle from horizontal to vertical, moving it to a different spatial dimension. This vertical orientation eliminates the obstructiveness and ergonomic issues associated with horizontal handles on sliding doors, while maintaining the locking functionality through the angular travel converter mechanism.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an angular travel converter as an intermediary mechanism between the vertical handle and the cremone bolt. This converter includes a support with arcuate slots and coupling means that transform the vertical handle movement into the required rotational motion of the actuating shaft, mediating between the simplified vertical handle and the locking mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a horizontal handle is used for cremone locking/unlocking devices, then the locking function is achieved, but the handle limits the opening of the leaf by a space equal to the length of the handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking functionVSAvoidopening space limitation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By reorienting the handle from horizontal to vertical, the patent eliminates the space occupation issue. A vertical handle does not protrude into the sliding path of the leaf, thereby removing the limitation on opening distance and allowing the leaf to open fully without the handle obstructing the movement.

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

3Length of moving object

If a vertical handle with short lever arm or limited angular travel is used for sliding doors, then opening space is improved, but the device complexity increases due to specialized design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening spaceVSAvoidhandle design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal solution by combining a standard vertical strike handle with an angular travel converter. This combination allows the use of conventional handles (designed for 90-degree rotation) on sliding doors by adding the converter mechanism, which adapts the handle's motion to the cremone bolt's requirements, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving universality across different door types.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the locking system into two independent parts: the handle (which can be a standard vertical strike handle) and the angular travel converter (which contains the arcuate slots and coupling means). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, keeping the handle simple and the complexity confined to the converter mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional cremone devices with horizontal handles are used, then mass production costs are competitive, but the handles pose risk of damage from collision with baffle post

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass production costVSAvoidhandle damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the handle orientation from horizontal to vertical, the patent eliminates the collision risk with the baffle post. The vertical handle moves in a different spatial plane that does not intersect with the baffle post's position, thereby removing the source of potential damage while maintaining manufacturability through the angular travel converter.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4050182B1Device for controlling a mechanism for locking/unlocking a door leaf
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 LA CROISEE DS
  • EP4050182B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4050182B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4050182B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Control device for a cremone bolt locking/unlocking system, comprising an actuating shaft driven in rotation by an operating member (2), and an angular stroke converter (1) comprising: - a support (10) having a cylindrical wall around a cavity in which at least a portion of said actuating shaft (11, 12) is inserted, and at least one slot (103, 104) provided in said cylindrical wall and opening into said cavity, said slot extending for a delimited length along the circular direction of said cylindrical wall defining an inactive angular stroke amplitude of the operating member, and - a coupling means between said actuating shaft and said support, said at least a portion (11) of the actuating shaft having a transverse conduit (110),receiver of said coupling means (13) which has an elongated shape, at least one end of which forms a projecting element cooperating with said slot along a path between the two respective ends of said slot so as to drive said actuating shaft in rotation along an active angular stroke.