Non-defacing Door Latch with Segmented Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current door latches are not secure enough to prevent unauthorized entry, can be easily broken or compromised by force, and often require defacement of the door or door frame for installation, making them impractical for emergency situations and aesthetically unacceptable.
Innovation Solution
A door-securing latch system that uses a combination of one-way screws, articulated latch arms, and a latch-pin track to provide mechanical strength and security without defacing the door or frame, allowing for intuitive operation and emergency disablement without damage, featuring a design that resists force and tool insertion while allowing partial door opening for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional door latches are installed using screws drilled into the door or door frame, then the latch can be securely fastened, but the door or door frame is defaced with permanent holes
Solution Approach 1:
A door-securing latch system uses a door frame mount and a door stop as intermediary components that distribute mounting forces across larger surface areas. The door frame mount attaches to the door frame without requiring screws through the door leaf itself, while the door stop provides a separate mounting surface on the door edge, thereby securing the latch system without defacing the main door surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch system moves the primary mounting interface from the door face (2D surface) to the door frame and door stop (3D structural elements). By utilizing the door frame's thickness and the door stop's protruding structure, the system creates mounting points in additional spatial dimensions, avoiding the need to drill into the door's primary surface.
2Strength
If a latch provides strong mechanical security resistant to force, then unauthorized entry is prevented, but the latch may be difficult to disable in emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The latch system is divided into separable components: a door frame mount, a door stop, and a latch mechanism. This segmentation allows the door stop to be independently removed or adjusted. In emergency situations, the door stop can be detached from the door without affecting the structural integrity of the door frame mount, enabling quick disablement while maintaining normal security during regular use.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch system incorporates dynamic adjustability through the removable door stop component. During normal operation, the door stop remains firmly attached to provide strong mechanical security. In emergency situations, the door stop can be quickly removed or repositioned, dynamically changing the system's state from secured to disabled without requiring forceful destruction or complex procedures.
3Strength
If a latch uses extensive mounting hardware to ensure security, then the latch is mechanically strong, but installation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into two independent parts: a door frame mount that attaches to the door frame and a door stop that attaches to the door. This segmentation allows each component to be installed separately using simpler procedures, reducing overall installation complexity while maintaining mechanical strength through the combined system. Each segment can be optimized for its specific mounting location without requiring a complex integrated mounting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The door frame mount and door stop serve multiple functions: they provide structural attachment points, distribute mounting forces, define the latch's geometric position, and enable both secure operation and emergency disablement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, simplifying the overall installation process while maintaining mechanical strength.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention include door-securing latches that allow an occupant of a room or other space accessed through a door to secure the door, from inside the room or other space, in order to prevent entry or access by others. Embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanically strong and secure latch that cannot be easily broken or compromised by application of force to the door or by insertion of a tool or device between the door and an adjacent door frame to disable the latch, but that can be disabled by a knowledgeable individual, such as an apartment manger seeking to rescue a disabled apartment occupant in an emergency situation.