Door Lock Indicator Cam for Clear Vacancy Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door locks on bathroom or toilet doors lack a clear visual indication of their locked state from the outside, leading to discomfort and embarrassment due to the need for manual verification, and suffer from structural complexity and high frictional resistance in existing indicator systems.
Innovation Solution
A door lock design with a rotatable indicator cam system that minimizes frictional resistance and clearly displays 'IN USE' or 'VACANT' through separate display windows on the upper and lower portions of the lock, using a torsion spring to rotate the indicator cam based on the lock's state, ensuring smooth operation and clear visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If an indicator member formed of a pair of first and second display members is opened by pressing the lock button, then a user can visually recognize whether the door lock is locked or not from the outside, but smooth operation cannot be guaranteed due to significantly large frictional resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical indicator member opening mechanism with a cam-based rotational mechanism. The cam part converts the linear pressing motion of the lock button into rotational motion of the indicator member, eliminating the need for direct mechanical opening of the indicator member and significantly reducing frictional resistance during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cam surface with curved geometry that guides the motion transformation. The cam part includes a cam surface that interacts with the indicator member to convert linear displacement into smooth rotational movement, ensuring effortless operation while maintaining clear visual indication of the lock state.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a display part configured to display 'CLOSED' and a display part configured to display 'OPEN' are respectively disposed on the upper portion and the lower portion of the main body cover, then the display function is enhanced, but since the display parts are simultaneously exposed, the display function is weakened and usability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display function into two separate display parts positioned at different locations (upper and lower portions of the main body cover). Each display part can independently display lock state information, and the segmentation allows selective exposure based on the lock state, preventing information redundancy and maintaining clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the display parts dynamic by enabling them to be selectively exposed or hidden based on the lock state. Through the cam mechanism and indicator member rotation, the display parts can be positioned to show either 'CLOSED' or 'OPEN' status, providing dynamic information display that adapts to the current lock state and avoids simultaneous exposure of conflicting information.
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 design simplifies the indicator mechanism, reduces frictional resistance, and enhances usability by providing clear visual cues of the lock's state, improving user experience and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a horseshoe-shaped indicator cam (622) coupled to an outer spring cage (606) of a lock indicator assembly (600) through a torsion spring (618)
Implementation Method 2
a pin rotation part (140, 154) including a driving pin (140) and a guide rib (141) is rotated in place by linear movement of a cam part (130) including a guide pin (132) and a cam surface (134)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a door lock equipped with an indicator, the door lock being configured such that a first small spindle support is rotated forwards along a spiral guide groove when a lock button assembly of a body assembly is pressed, a small spindle cam is rotated along the first small spindle support during operation of the first small spindle support, an indicator cam coupled to an outer spring cage of a lock indicator assembly is rotated clockwise so as to allow “IN USE” displayed on an upper display part of the indicator cam and a lower display part of the outer spring cage to be exposed to the outside, and the indicator cam is rotated counterclockwise so as to allow “VACANT” displayed on an upper display part of the outer spring cage and a lower display part of the indicator cam to be exposed to the outside.