Bidirectional Striker Plate with Fixed Stop for Barrier Locks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing striker structures for barrier opening locking devices in animal enclosures are prone to causing injuries and increase costs due to protruding elements, are complex to manufacture, and fragile, especially in applications like animal breeding.

Innovation Solution

A striker structure with a fixed stop plate and minimal protruding elements, featuring a clamping structure for secure attachment to a support, and a bolt structure with an elastic return mechanism for reliable locking in both directions, reducing the risk of injury and enhancing durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a movable stop is used in the striker structure to allow bidirectional closing, then the barrier opening can be closed from both sides, but protruding elements are created that can cause injury to animals and increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebidirectional closing capabilityVSAvoidanimal injury risk from protruding elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the stop means fixed rather than movable. The striker structure includes a fixed stop means with two bolt housings positioned on opposite sides, allowing the locking element to engage from either direction without requiring a movable stop that would create protruding harmful elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The striker structure is segmented into two separate bolt housings (first and second bolt housings) positioned on opposite sides of the fixed stop means. Each housing can independently receive the locking element, enabling bidirectional closing functionality without needing a single movable stop component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a movable stop is used in the striker structure, then bidirectional closing is enabled, but the structure becomes more fragile and harder to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebidirectional closing capabilityVSAvoidstructural fragility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a movable stop that creates structural complexity and fragility, the patent employs a fixed stop means with two stationary bolt housings. This inverted approach eliminates the movable component entirely, resulting in a more robust and manufacturable structure that maintains bidirectional closing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If protruding elements are added to protect animals from the striker structure, then animal safety is improved, but the number of parts increases and costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal injury protectionVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of protruding elements into a benefit by designing the fixed stop means with two bolt housings that naturally accommodate the locking element from either direction. The structure that could have been harmful (protruding stop means) is redesigned to be beneficial (fixed stop with dual housings), eliminating the need for additional protective parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3995648B1Latch structure for locking device of openable section of a barrier

Publication Date: 2024.03.13 COSNET

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a strike plate structure (7) and a gate locking device (4) for a gate leaf (2) capable of pivoting about a pivot axis (5) to open from one side and from the other of at least one closed position. The locking device (4) comprises a bolt structure (6) equipped with a locking element (61) that is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position to allow its interaction with a strike plate structure (7) and to lock the gate leaf (2) in at least one closed position. According to the invention, the strike plate structure (7) includes a first bolt housing (71) and a second bolt housing (72), both adapted to cooperate with the locking element (61) of the bolt structure (6), as well as a fixed stop means (73) for said locking element (61), located between the two bolt housings (71 and 72).