Insulating Strip Lock Attachment Thermal Bridge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat-insulated door and window designs face challenges with heat transfer through locks and locking plates, as they often create thermal bridges and lack secure attachment within the insulation zone.

Innovation Solution

The lock forend or locking plate is fastened to an insulating strip with screws that dig into the strip's wall, and additional features like cross bars, support strips, and metal reinforcement enhance attachment strength and prevent thermal bridges, using plastic or metal components for improved insulation and anchoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the lock or locking plate is attached directly to the metal profiles, then secure attachment is achieved, but heat flow through the fastening elements occurs creating thermal bridges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidheat flow through fastening elements
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

An insulating strip made of thermally insulating material is introduced as an intermediary component between the metal profiles and the lock or locking plate. This mediator allows secure mechanical attachment while preventing thermal conduction paths, thus eliminating thermal bridges without compromising attachment strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening system uses composite construction combining metal components (for structural strength and anchoring) with thermally insulating materials (for thermal break). This composite approach enables both secure attachment and thermal insulation functionality simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Loss of energy

If the lock is positioned in the insulating zone, then thermal insulation is improved, but secure attachment of the lock forend or locking plate cannot be guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer through lock plateVSAvoidattachment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating strip is segmented into two vertically projecting strips that form a screw channel, allowing the locking mechanism to be divided into separate anchoring functions. The insulating strip itself is segmented to provide both thermal insulation and mechanical anchoring zones

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution employs composite materials combining thermally insulating material with metal reinforcement elements or metal strips. This composite structure provides both the thermal insulation needed for energy efficiency and the mechanical strength required for reliable attachment in the insulating zone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

This solution effectively prevents heat flow through fastening elements, ensuring a solid attachment without forming thermal bridges, thereby enhancing thermal insulation and structural strength.

Implementation Method 1

the insulating bar being arranged in close proximity to the lock or locking plate and for connection at least one fastening element holding the lock or the closing plate is formed in that the insulating strip is provided with two vertically projecting strips which between them form a screw channel for the fastening element designed as a screw

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2116685B1Heat insulated window, door or such like
Publication Date: 2014.08.20 SAPA AS
  • EP2116685B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2116685B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~6
  • EP2116685B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

A door or a window consists of a fixed outer frame with a hinged inner frame both made of a respective metal profile (3, 4) linked by a crosspiece of insulating material (5). The door or window has a closure (6) consisting of a lock (7) and a plate (8), one each in the inner and outer frame. The insulating strip (5) is closely co-located to both the lock and plate, where they are retained by a fixture (10).