Bolt Support Plate Lateral Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dead and latch bolt mechanisms are susceptible to damage from lateral impacts, particularly when the dead bolt is inserted into an aperture and free to move laterally, leading to wear and tear on the mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A bolt support plate is fitted to the external surface of a door or gate, featuring holes with edges that provide a close fit for the bolts, using inserts like brass rings to ensure a smooth and controlled motion while preventing lateral movement, thus offering lateral support and protection against impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the dead bolt is inserted into an aperture and allowed to move freely, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to lateral impacts causing wear and damage
Solution Approach 1:
A support plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the bolt and the aperture. The support plate contains a hole that receives the bolt, providing lateral support and guidance while allowing the bolt to move freely in the locking direction. This mediator prevents direct lateral impacts on the bolt mechanism, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
2Reliability
If the bolt is provided with lateral support through a close fit in the aperture, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased friction and resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate acts as an intermediary that provides lateral support through its hole structure while maintaining smooth bolt movement. The hole in the support plate is precisely dimensioned to provide a close fit for lateral support but with sufficient clearance to allow free movement in the locking direction, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation
3Ease of manufacture
If the aperture is made larger to accommodate the bolt, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the object-affected harmful factors increase due to greater lateral movement and impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is segmented into two functional parts: the main aperture in the door or gate structure that can be large and easy to manufacture, and the precision hole in the support plate that provides lateral guidance. This segmentation allows the main structure to be easily manufactured while the support plate compensates for lateral movement issues through its precisely dimensioned hole
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A bolt support plate for fitting to a door or gate and connectable with a lock having a lock body on an opposing surface of the door or gate, comprises one or more holes, wherein the edges of the holes provide a bolt, e.g. a latch bolt or a dead bolt of the lock, with a close fit, thereby providing lateral support for the bolt. A kit comprises the support plate and a corresponding lock.