Door Gap Lock With a Controlled Break Point for Emergency Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional door gap locks cannot be opened without causing damage to the door leaf, door frame, or the lock itself, posing a challenge in emergency situations, especially in public transport where rapid rescue is needed.

Innovation Solution

A door gap lock design featuring a slidable locking bolt guided into a pivot lever with a predetermined break point that allows forced opening without significant damage by breaking at a specific force, using a sheet metal or injection molded breaking point that can be easily replaced.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional door gap lock is designed to be massively constructed to prevent forced opening, then security is improved, but damage to the door leaf, door frame, or lock components occurs during emergency opening attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddamage to door components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide in the pivot lever is segmented into a first section and a second section with different cross-sectional shapes. The locking bolt has corresponding sections that match each guide section. This segmentation allows the lock to provide form-fit guidance during normal operation while enabling controlled breaking in emergency situations, preventing damage to critical components like the door leaf and frame.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the guide have different local qualities (cross-sectional shapes). The first section provides form-fit guidance for normal operation, while the second section is designed to allow breaking. This local differentiation enables the lock to maintain security during normal use while permitting emergency opening without damaging the door or frame.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a door gap lock is designed with high strength components to resist forced opening, then security is improved, but replacement time increases when components are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidreplacement time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The guide is divided into sections with different properties. The second section is designed as a sacrificial element that can break without damaging critical components. This segmentation allows for quick replacement of only the broken guide section rather than the entire lock assembly, reducing repair time while maintaining overall security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second section of the guide is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component. In emergency situations, this section breaks to allow door opening, and only this specific section needs to be replaced rather than the entire lock mechanism, making repair fast and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If a door gap lock uses a mushroom pin design to prevent disengagement, then security is improved, but the lock cannot be opened from the inside without closing the door

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidoperation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking bolt is designed to be movable along the guide sections. During normal operation, it engages in the first section for security. For emergency opening from inside, it can be pushed to engage in the second section, which allows disengagement without closing the door. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between security and operational convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If a door gap lock is designed to block the door at a small opening angle, then security is improved, but emergency rescue time increases in public transport

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidrescue time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide is segmented into two sections with different functions. The first section provides security by blocking the door at a small angle during normal operation. The second section is designed to break under emergency force, allowing rapid door opening for rescue operations. This segmentation enables both security and rapid emergency response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second section of the guide is designed to break under emergency conditions. This controlled breaking, which might seem like a failure of security, actually provides the benefit of enabling rapid emergency door opening without damaging the door or frame, thus reducing rescue time while maintaining normal security.

Inventive Principle:

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

Data Source

PatentUS12442229B2Door gap lock

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 SIEMENS MOBILITY AUSTRIA GMBH

AI summary

A door gap lock includes a door leaf part that is configured to be arranged on a door leaf and that has an axially slidably mounted locking bolt, and includes a frame part that is configured to be arranged on a door frame and has a rotatably mounted pivot lever, where the locking bolt can be slid into a guide on the pivot lever and, during a relative movement between the door leaf part and the frame part, the locking bolt is guided in a form-fitting manner in the guide so as to be slidable therein over a defined distance, and where the guide when arranged in the pivot lever has a predetermined breaking point at which the locking bolt breaks through the guide when a defined force is applied to the locking bolt.