Compact Digital Door Lock for Screen Doors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital locks are not well-suited for security screen doors due to their thinner design and the lack of space between screen doors and external doors, making it impractical to use digital mortices and large handle assemblies, thus requiring traditional keys for access control.
Innovation Solution
A door lock system with a mechanical mortice and external digital access control assembly that mechanically couples and decouples the handle to the mortice, eliminating the need for electronic actuators and allowing for a compact, wire-free design suitable for screen doors, featuring a keypad for access control and a clutch for three-point locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a digital lock with electronic mortice and large handle assembly is used, then digital access control functionality is provided, but the lock system becomes too large and complex for thin screen doors
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system is segmented into two separate components: an external digital access control assembly that remains outside the door, and a simplified mechanical mortice lock inside the door. This segmentation allows the electronic components to be positioned externally, reducing the space requirements within the thin screen door.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital access control assembly is positioned in a different spatial dimension (outside the door) rather than being integrated within the door thickness. The handle extends through the door, with the digital control portion located externally, effectively utilizing the external space to reduce internal volume requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an electrical actuator is used to actuate the mechanical mortice, then digital access control is enabled, but the lock system requires internal wiring and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional electrical actuator mechanism with a direct mechanical coupling system. The handle is mechanically coupled to the mortice lock, allowing digital access control to be achieved through mechanical transmission rather than electrical actuation, thereby eliminating the need for internal wiring and complex electrical components within the door.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical actuator and associated wiring are extracted from the door system and replaced with a purely mechanical coupling mechanism. This extraction simplifies the internal door structure by removing complex electrical components while retaining the digital access control functionality through the external assembly.
3Ease of operation
If a traditional key lock is used on the screen door, then access control is provided, but the benefit and motivation of installing a digital lock is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the digital access control functionality with the screen door lock system by integrating the digital control assembly with the mechanical mortice lock. This combination allows the screen door to provide both digital access control (via keypad or access device) and traditional mechanical locking in a unified system, maximizing the benefit of digital lock installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock system is designed to be universal and multi-functional, accommodating both digital access control methods (keypad, access devices) and traditional mechanical key operation. This multi-functionality ensures that users can choose different access methods while maintaining the security and convenience benefits of digital locking technology.
Data Source
AI summary
A door lock system, an external digital access control assembly and an inner door handle assembly for use on a pivotally mounted door is provided. The door lock system includes: an external digital access control assembly, including a digital access control component and a handle; and a mechanical mortice, mechanically coupled to the external digital access control assembly. The digital access control component is configured to selectively provide access control by mechanically coupling and decoupling the handle to the mechanical mortice.