Truck Door Bolt-Striker Pivot Release for Thick Seal Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing truck and semi-trailer door locking systems require significant manual effort to overcome friction from large elastomer seals, especially those thicker than 70mm, making door opening cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A bolt and strike plate system with a pivoting mechanism that includes a bolt with a male part and engagement part, and a strike plate with a hooking member and locking projections, allowing for a pivoting motion that disengages the bolt from the strike plate, facilitating seal release and door opening with reduced friction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If large elastomer seals with thickness above 70mm are used to ensure good sealing performance, then sealing performance is improved, but friction between the door and frame during opening increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidfriction force during opening
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The bolt is designed to perform a preliminary extraction action on the seal before the door is opened. During the pivoting motion from locked to unlocked state, the bolt extracts the seal from between the door and frame, pre-releasing the sealing contact. This preliminary action reduces the friction force that would otherwise be encountered during door opening, while maintaining the good sealing performance when closed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If traditional bolt and strike plate systems are used, then the locking mechanism is simple, but significant manual force is required to overcome seal friction when opening the door

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking mechanism complexityVSAvoidease of door opening
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bolt is designed with a pivoting motion capability, allowing it to dynamically change its position and orientation during the unlocking process. The bolt pivots around an axis that is offset from the strike plate, enabling it to extract the seal and push the door during opening. This dynamic motion transforms the simple locking mechanism into one that actively assists door opening, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining relative simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bolt acts as an intermediary element between the locking mechanism and the door. Instead of directly unlocking the strike plate, the bolt first extracts the seal and then pushes the door during opening. This intermediary action mediates the force transmission, reducing the manual effort required by the operator while maintaining the simplicity of the overall locking system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 system enables easy door opening by minimizing the force required to overcome seal friction, ensuring efficient operation even with large seals, enhancing user convenience and reducing seal wear.

Implementation Method 1

said bolt being configured during a pivoting motion around said axis, from the locked state, to the unlocked state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Implementation Method 2

a push of the bolt on the strike plate by the distal end of the bolt sliding on the guide surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

a contact between the distal end of the bolt and at least one guide surface of the strike plate extending over the strike plate body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4678517A1Bolt and striker system and opening and closing device comprising such a system
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 THIRIET
  • EP4678517A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4678517A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4678517A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Bolt and strike plate system for opening and closing device of a truck or semi-trailer body door, the system comprising a bolt (P) and a strike plate (G), said door being configured to move from an open position to a closed position, by hinge of the door, said opening and closing device (configured to move from a locked state for which the bolt comes into the engagement and locking position in the strike plate (G) to an unlocked state (EDV), by pivoting of the control bar, allowing an escape between the bolt and the strike plate of an extraction distance (DE) greater than 75mm.