Lock Assembly for Non-Pivotable Door with Nested Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock assemblies for non-pivotable doors lack a secure and adaptable mechanism to integrate with various door types and locking systems, often requiring modifications to the door itself and lacking protection against tampering and environmental factors.
Innovation Solution
A lock assembly comprising a housing with aligned spacer and strike plates, coupled to the door, and a deadbolt-style locking mechanism that extends into both plates for secure locking, with a housing designed to receive and secure various locking mechanisms, including electrified deadbolt locks, and features for attachment to fixed substrates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional latch assembly is used on a non-pivotable door, then the door can be secured, but the locking mechanism is vulnerable to tampering and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is nested within a protective housing that encloses the locking mechanism. The housing contains the latch member, spring, and other components, shielding them from environmental factors and tampering attempts while allowing the latch to extend and retract for locking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system is divided into separate functional components: a housing for protection, a latch member for locking, a spring for actuation, and a actuator for control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a lock assembly is designed to be adaptable to various door types, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with universal mounting features including multiple bore positions and adjustable strike plate configurations that can accommodate different door thicknesses and materials. The same basic assembly can be installed on various door types without requiring custom-designed components.
Solution Approach 2:
The strike plate is positioned adjustably within the housing, allowing it to be repositioned to accommodate different door configurations. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the same housing design to work with varying door types while maintaining proper latch alignment.
3Reliability
If the latch member extends fully outside the housing, then locking engagement is secure, but the locking mechanism becomes more exposed to tampering
Solution Approach 1:
The latch member is nested within the housing during its retracted and partial extended positions, with only the necessary portion extending through the housing wall for engagement. This minimizes exposure to tampering while maintaining secure locking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary protective barrier between the vulnerable internal components and external tampering attempts. It allows the latch to perform its locking function while shielding the spring, actuator, and other sensitive components from direct access.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking assembly for a non-pivotable door is provided. The locking assembly comprises a spacer plate defining a spacer plate bolt void and a strike plate defining a strike plate bolt void. The spacer plate and strike plate are to be coupled to one another and further fixedly coupled to the non-pivotable door, such that the spacer plate bolt void and the strike plate bolt void are aligned. The locking assembly further comprises a locking mechanism and a housing, which is configured to receive and contain the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a latch bolt that is moveable between a retracted position within the housing and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the latch bolt extends outwardly from the housing and into each of the spacer plate bolt void and the strike plate bolt void, thereby locking the non-pivotable door to the housing.