Self-adjusting Door Thickness Indicator for Lock Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cylindrical locksets face difficulties in accurately aligning with varying door thicknesses, leading to incorrect settings and additional validation steps due to challenges in assessing current settings and inadvertent changes during shipping or handling.
Innovation Solution
A self-adjusting door thickness indicator apparatus with an adjustment plate and indicator assembly, featuring an indicator gauge and biasing element, allows for precise alignment and visualization of door thickness settings, ensuring correct lock chassis positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable lock chassis configuration is used to accommodate various door thicknesses, then adaptability to different door thicknesses is improved, but difficulty in accurately assessing current settings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through visual indicators (such as colored bands or markings) that provide immediate visual confirmation of the current adjustment setting. This allows the installer to easily assess the current door thickness setting without confusion, directly addressing the worsening feature while maintaining the adaptability improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color-coded indicators or markings on the adjustable components that change or vary based on the adjustment position. Different colors or patterns correspond to different door thickness settings, making it visually intuitive to identify the current setting and resolve the assessment difficulty
2Ease of operation
If factory preset conditions are used for lock chassis, then ease of installation is improved, but occurrence of inadvertent changes during shipping or handling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-setting the lock chassis to common door thickness configurations during manufacturing. This provides a convenient starting point for installation while incorporating protective features to prevent inadvertent changes during shipping and handling, thus maintaining both ease of installation and reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment positions are provided for lock body, then adaptability to various door thicknesses is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the adjustment mechanism into discrete, standardized positions or increments. This allows multiple adjustment positions to be provided for adaptability while keeping each individual adjustment element simple and manageable, thus reducing overall device complexity
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 apparatus enables accurate and efficient alignment of locksets with various door thicknesses, reducing errors and validation steps by providing a clear visual indication of the correct setting, thus ensuring proper lock function.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing element is structured to bias the indicator gauge against the adjustment plate
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for setting a lock assembly to accommodate a thickness of a door. The apparatus may include a housing that is sized for placement in an opening in the door and an adjustment member that is structured for at least selective axial displacement about the housing. At least a portion of the adjustment member may be structured for placement adjacent to an outside portion of the door. The apparatus may include an indicator assembly having an indicator gauge that is biased against the adjustment member by a biasing element. The indicator portion is structured for axial displacement about the housing via the axial displacement of the adjustment member. The indicator assembly may also include a cover having an opening that provides a visual access point for an indicium of the indicator gauge.