Sliding Glass Door Ferrule Lock With Flush Hidden Rotor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding glass door locks for showcases are either too expensive and aesthetically unpleasing due to their bulkiness and visibility, or they compromise transparency with mechanical devices that are not suitable for luxury applications.

Innovation Solution

A lock rotor is integrated into the ferrule or endpiece of sliding glass doors, featuring a wafer tumbler rotor with a slider and resilient return mechanism, allowing for a flush and attractive appearance while maintaining security, with helical guide means for easy locking and unlocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If mechanical locking devices with racks are used, then cost is reduced, but appearance and transparency are compromised due to visible components

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidappearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The visible rack mechanism is extracted and replaced by integrating the locking function directly into the ferrule. The rotor and bolt mechanism is concealed within the ferrule structure, with only a minimal flat face plate visible on the exterior, eliminating the unsightly external racks while maintaining mechanical locking functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism components ( rotor, bolt, slider) are nested within the ferrule structure. The rotor is mounted inside the ferrule, the bolt is housed within the rotor, and the slider moves within the ferrule, creating a compact nested arrangement that maintains a clean external appearance while providing full locking functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If telescopic body locks with springs are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but device bulkiness increases with 30mm projection

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidprojection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lock transitions from a static telescopic body design to a dynamic slider mechanism that moves transversely within the ferrule. The resilient return means provides dynamic motion control, allowing the rotor to slide into and out of the locked position without requiring a bulky telescopic body or spring ejection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism shifts from a longitudinal telescopic expansion (30mm projection) to a transverse sliding motion within the ferrule. The slider moves perpendicular to the door thickness direction, utilizing the width of the ferrule instead of extending outward, thereby reducing the projection to minimal thickness while maintaining locking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Shape

If electromagnetic locking devices are used, then appearance is improved with flush mounting, but cost increases significantly for luxury applications

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveappearanceVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electromagnetic actuation with a manual key-operated rotor system. The rotor, when turned with a key, mechanically drives the bolt through the helical guide means and engages the rear door, providing a purely mechanical locking solution that achieves the flush appearance of electromagnetic locks without their high cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The design changes the actuation parameter from electrical (electromagnetic) to mechanical (manual key rotation). This parameter change allows the use of simple, inexpensive mechanical components while maintaining the aesthetic advantage of a flush-mounted design, making luxury appearance accessible at lower cost tiers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 an attractive, inconspicuous, and cost-effective locking mechanism that ensures secure horizontal locking of sliding glass doors, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and usability while being easier to implement and maintain.

Implementation Method 1

the slider includes resilient return means urging the lock towards the unlocked position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResilient return means: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8438886B2Device for locking the doors of a showcase

Publication Date: 2013.05.14 ADLER

AI summary

The invention provides a showcase having at least two glass doors, a first door being fastened to a front ferrule and a second door being fastened to a rear ferrule, each of the ferrules moving along a respective rail, said locking device comprising a lock for locking the two doors together, wherein the showcase includes a locking device comprising a slider mounted to move in said front ferrule transversely relative thereto, and having a rotor of the lock installed thereon, wherein said rear ferrule includes an opening that comes into line with said rotor in a position for locking the two doors together, and that is suitable for receiving a bolt mounted at the end of said rotor, and wherein said slider includes a relatively flat face plate coming substantially flush with said ferrule in the locked position of said doors.