Locking Astragal with Integrated Fastener Recesses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing double door astragals face installation challenges due to lost fastener cover members, resulting in increased costs and an unfinished appearance, with exposed stiffeners being a target for tampering and requiring additional strike plates.
Innovation Solution
A locking astragal design featuring an elongate member with integrated fastener passageways, upper and lower slide bolts, and stiffeners, along with a pivotally engaging lock member that maintains slide bolts in a locked position, eliminating the need for separate fastener cover members and strike plates, and providing a finished look.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If separate fastener cover members are used to cover fasteners, then the appearance is finished and protected, but the components are prone to being lost during shipping and installation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener cover function is merged with the astragal body itself. The recesses formed in the astragal directly receive and conceal the fasteners, eliminating the need for separate fastener cover members. This integration reduces the total number of parts while maintaining the finished appearance and protective function.
2Reliability
If separate strike plates are used to maintain slide bolts in locked position, then security is enhanced, but additional parts are required that may be lost during shipping
Solution Approach 1:
The strike plate function is merged with the astragal body. Recesses are formed directly in the astragal to receive and maintain the slide bolts in locked positions. This integration eliminates separate strike plates while preserving the security function and reducing part count.
Solution Approach 2:
The astragal structure itself provides the locking and maintaining function through its recesses. The recesses are designed to automatically hold the slide bolts in position without requiring additional active components or separate strike plates.
3Strength
If stiffeners are exposed on the astragal surface, then structural support is provided, but the appearance is unfinished and the stiffeners become targets for tampering
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffeners are integrated into the astragal body as recesses rather than being separate exposed components. This integration maintains the structural support function while concealing the stiffeners within the astragal structure, providing a finished appearance and eliminating tamper targets.
Data Source
AI summary
A lock member that pivotally engages a slide bolt movement member connected to a slide bolt of a locking astragal and that is moveable between locked and unlocked positions includes a user engagement portion and a lock portion. The user engagement portion is substantially flat and adapted to be flush with an outer surface portion of the slide bolt movement member when the lock member is in the locked position and the unlocked position. The lock portion is positioned opposite the user engagement portion, and has an unlocked side that is substantially flat and a locked side having an arcuate shape. The arcuate shaped lock side is positioned adjacent an interior portion of the slide bolt movement member when the lock member is in the locked position, and the substantially flat unlocked side is positioned adjacent the interior portion of the slide bolt movement member when the lock member is in the unlocked position.