Espagnolette Lock Follower with Adjustable Abutment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current locking mechanisms for carpentry fittings are not adaptable to multiple applications, requiring multiple mechanisms for different types of door and window joinery, leading to inefficiencies in manufacturing and increased production costs.

Innovation Solution

A locking mechanism with a follower mounted in rotation, featuring abutment means that can occupy different positions to adjust the angular travel of the follower, allowing for various angular strokes and extreme positions, and means for selecting these positions, such as movable abutment members and complementary crown sector abutment members, enabling standardization across applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple locking mechanisms are used for different types of door and window joinery, then each mechanism can be optimized for its specific application, but manufacturing efficiency decreases and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different joinery applicationsVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is designed with adjustable abutment means that can occupy different positions to provide various angular strokes, allowing a single mechanism to serve multiple applications in door and window joinery. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple specialized mechanisms, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining adaptability to different joinery types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The abutment means are made movable between different positions, enabling dynamic adjustment of the follower's angular travel. This dynamic capability allows the same mechanism to adapt to different operational requirements (e.g., 45° for simple locks, 90° for espagnolette locks, 180° for sliding door vents) without requiring multiple fixed-design mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple locking mechanisms are used for different applications, then each mechanism can be optimized for its specific use, but device complexity and parts inventory increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication-specific optimizationVSAvoidnumber of different mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By incorporating adjustable abutment means within a single locking mechanism design, the invention creates a universal mechanism that can be optimized for different applications through configuration rather than through multiple distinct designs. This reduces the number of different mechanisms needed while maintaining application-specific optimization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is segmented into modular components, with the abutment means being a separate adjustable element. This segmentation allows the core mechanism to remain simple while the adjustable abutment component provides the necessary variability for different applications, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple locking mechanisms are used for different joinery types, then each mechanism can be precisely tailored, but production costs and inventory management become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetailoring to joinery typeVSAvoidproduction cost and inventory management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a universal locking mechanism platform that can be tailored to different joinery types through the configuration of adjustable abutment means. This approach consolidates production around a single mechanism design, simplifying manufacturing processes, reducing production costs, and easing inventory management while maintaining the ability to tailor the mechanism to specific applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism allows tailoring to different joinery types by changing the position parameter of the abutment means, which directly controls the angular stroke of the follower. This parameter adjustment approach enables customization without requiring different physical mechanisms, thereby simplifying manufacture and inventory management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3401471B1Locking mechanism for espagnolette lock comprising at least one nut
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 FERCO
  • EP3401471B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3401471B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7B

AI summary

The invention relates to a locking mechanism (1) for joinery locking hardware, this locking mechanism (1) comprising at least one follower (8) mounted for rotation in a housing (9) and cooperating with at least one locking member and/or a transmission member (16) to push this locking member and/or this transmission member (16) between a position and at least one unlocking position, by rotation of said follower (8) over a stroke between two angularly offset extreme positions.This mechanism (1) further comprises stop means (21) adapted to occupy a first position in which they cooperate with the follower (8) to allow the latter to rotate through a first angular stroke, and at least a second position in which these stop means (21) allow the rotation of said follower (8) through a second angular stroke, differing from the first angular stroke, as the case may be, by its amplitude and/or from at least one of the extreme positions. This mechanism (1) also comprises, in combination, means (24) for selecting the position of said stop means (21).