Electric Door Lock with Mechanical Stop and Visual Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromechanical door locks do not provide a clear indication of the open position, making it difficult for users to determine if the door is unlocked and ready for use, and they lack a push-open mechanism to automatically open the door to a defined position.
Innovation Solution
A mechanically displaceable door hanger is integrated into the lock, connected to the door leaf and held in a defined open position by resilient pressure pieces when the lock is unlocked, allowing the door to be automatically pushed open and held in a visible open position, signaling the user that the lock is unlocked without the need for electricity or optical displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional electromechanical lock is used without a push-open mechanism, then the locking function is simple and reliable, but the user cannot easily determine if the door is open and there is no automatic door opening capability
Solution Approach 1:
The door hanger is integrated into the lock body, combining the door hanging function with the new push-open and indication functions. The resilient pressure pieces are built into the lock housing to engage with the door hanger, eliminating the need for separate external mechanisms while achieving automatic door opening and visual status indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The door hanger serves multiple functions: it acts as a mechanical indicator of door status (hanging vertically when open), provides the push-open surface for automatic door opening, and engages with resilient pressure pieces to control door position. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving complex functionality through a unified component rather than multiple separate mechanisms.
2Loss of information
If optical display elements or electronic signaling are used to indicate door status, then clear visual indication is provided, but the system requires electricity and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The door hanger serves as a passive mechanical indicator that automatically displays door status through its own position (hanging vertically when door is open, horizontal when closed). The system uses the door's own weight and the hanger's gravitational position to provide continuous visual feedback without requiring external power sources, electronic components, or active signaling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic/optical indication systems with a purely mechanical indication system. Instead of using LEDs, displays, or electronic sensors to show door status, the invention uses the physical position of the door hanger itself as the indicator, substituting mechanical gravity-based positioning for electronic signaling.
3Ease of operation
If the door is allowed to open freely without a stop mechanism, then the door can open completely, but the door cannot stop at a defined position and may swing too far causing damage or security issues
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient pressure pieces are pre-positioned within the lock housing at specific locations that correspond to the desired door stop positions. When the door opens and the door hanger engages these pre-positioned pressure pieces, the door is automatically stopped at the correct position without requiring active control or sensing during the opening motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient pressure pieces provide a cushioning effect before the door reaches its final stopped position. As the door hanger approaches the pressure pieces during opening, the resilient material gradually absorbs the kinetic energy, providing a smooth deceleration and preventing hard impacts or overshooting, thereby ensuring reliable stopping at the defined position.
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 solution provides a clear visual indication of the door's open position, allowing users to easily identify unlocked doors and ensuring secure, tamper-proof operation, even in small spaces, while enabling easy installation and use across various cabinet types.
Implementation Method 1
resilient pressure pieces in the displacement area of the door hanger, which hold the door hanger in a defined displacement position when the lock is opened
Implementation Method 2
a cabinet door is pushed open via a spring-loaded magnet during the opening process
Data Source
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AI summary
Electromechanical lock for use with locker-type storage systems, wherein a door bolt connected to the pivoting part of the door is provided, which can be inserted into the lock and locked there, engages in a recess of a spring-loaded and rotatably mounted bolt and can be actuated by a solenoid via a locking lever, wherein the electromechanical lock has spring-loaded pressure pieces in the displacement area of the door bolt, which hold the door bolt in a defined displacement position when the lock is opened.