Deformable Tilt Latch Prevents Window Sash Inward Tilting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window sash latches fail to prevent sudden, forceful tilting inward during inclement or windy conditions, leading to potential damage or safety hazards due to structural deformation and pressure differentials.
Innovation Solution
A deformable tilt latch with a slot for a pillar that prevents retraction and inward tilting by deforming under external forces, utilizing a deformable material and serrated edges to engage with the window frame, ensuring the latch remains extended and secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional rigid tilt latch is used, then the latch can maintain its position under normal conditions, but it fails to prevent inward tilting during extreme weather conditions due to structural deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The latch material's physical state changes under extreme conditions. The deformable material transitions from a rigid state during normal operation to a deformed state during extreme weather, allowing the latch to adapt its properties to maintain engagement with the pillar while preventing inward tilting of the window sash.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch is constructed from a deformable material that combines rigidity under normal conditions with flexibility under extreme loads. This composite-like behavior allows the latch to maintain structural integrity during normal use while deforming appropriately during hurricanes or severe storms to prevent window failure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the latch is made deformable to prevent retraction under pressure, then the window is protected from inward tilting, but the latch structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable latch performs its protective function automatically without external control systems. When wind pressure or pressure differentials apply force to the window, the deformable material naturally deforms to maintain engagement with the pillar, preventing inward tilting. The system self-regulates based on the applied loads, eliminating the need for complex actuators or control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties change in response to applied forces, allowing the latch to transition between engaged and potentially disengaged states based on the magnitude of the load. This parameter change enables the latch to provide protection during extreme weather while maintaining simplicity in its overall structure.
3Ease of operation
If the latch remains extended under all conditions, then the window is secure during normal use, but the latch cannot adapt to extreme conditions where deformation is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The latch transitions from a static, fixed-position mechanism to a dynamic system that responds to external forces. The deformable material allows the latch to change its physical state and engagement characteristics based on the environmental conditions, providing both security during normal use and adaptability during extreme weather events.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the latch material change in response to applied loads. During normal conditions, the material maintains its original dimensions and engagement properties. During extreme conditions, the material deforms to maintain engagement with the pillar while preventing inward tilting, thus adapting to the changing environmental conditions.
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
Effectively prevents the window from tilting inward during extreme weather conditions by maintaining engagement with the window frame, even under heavy wind loads, thereby enhancing safety and preventing damage.
Implementation Method 1
The deformable material deforms when a pressure or force is applied to the exterior of the window. When the deformable tilt latch deforms, the pillar is received in the slot, preventing the latch from operating
Data Source
AI summary
A sash latch for engagement with a side jamb of a window includes an upper member with a spring cavity and a stop wall, a forward slot for engagement with an upper surface of a sash and a latch extension. The latch extension includes a substantially planar surface and an inclined planar surface extending at an acute angle relative to the substantially planar surface. The inclined planar surface includes a notch at a proximal end thereof, wherein the notch receives an edge of a wall of the side jamb when a heavy wind load is applied to an outer facing surface of the sash to restrain the sash relative to the side jamb.