Retrofit Vehicle Door Lock with Segmented Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door locks for vehicles, particularly vans, are not sufficiently secure and often cannot be used on sliding door arrangements, leaving valuable contents vulnerable to theft.
Innovation Solution
A retrofit door lock design featuring two interconnected units with slanted edges and teeth/hole configurations, along with a locking bar and internal handle, providing enhanced security and compatibility with sliding doors by allowing relative movement and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional lock is used on a sliding door, then the lock structure is simple, but the lock cannot accommodate sliding movement and provides insufficient security
Solution Approach 1:
The lock is divided into two separate units: a first unit that mounts on the door and a second unit that mounts on the vehicle body. These units can move independently to accommodate sliding door movement while maintaining secure engagement through the locking bar and teeth-hole engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock design incorporates dynamic elements including a movable locking bar that can extend and retract, and units that can slide relative to each other. This allows the lock to adapt to the sliding motion of the door while maintaining security when engaged.
2Reliability
If a conventional lock is retrofitted to a vehicle, then installation is simple, but the lock provides insufficient security against theft
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the lock into two separate units that can be installed independently on the door and vehicle body, the system maintains ease of retrofits while achieving enhanced security through the complex engagement mechanism of the locking bar and teeth-hole configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking bar acts as an intermediary element that connects the two units. It provides the security function of preventing door opening while allowing the units to remain separate and independently installable, thus maintaining ease of retrofitting.
3Reliability
If the lock units are tightly engaged for security, then theft prevention is improved, but the lock cannot accommodate sliding door movement
Solution Approach 1:
The lock design allows the two units to move dynamically relative to each other during sliding operation. The locking bar can extend to engage the teeth-hole mechanism for secure engagement, and retract or allow unit movement when the door is sliding, thus accommodating both security and sliding door compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Separating the lock into two independent units allows each unit to move freely to accommodate sliding door motion while maintaining the ability to engage securely when the door is in the closed position.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the lock is mounted on a sliding door, then versatility is improved, but unauthorized access may be possible through the spacing between units
Solution Approach 1:
The locking bar serves as an intermediary that spans the spacing between the two units. When engaged, it prevents unauthorized access by blocking the gap that could be used for lever attacks, while still allowing the units to move independently for sliding door compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking bar is extracted as a separate functional element that specifically addresses the security vulnerability of the spacing between units, preventing unauthorized access through this gap while allowing the main units to remain separate for sliding door installation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A door lock 10 is for retrofitting to a vehicle 12. The door lock 10 comprises a first unit 14a and a second unit 14b. The first unit 14a comprises a front face 16a and an opposite rear face 18a parallel to the front face 16a, the rear face 18a for connecting to the vehicle 12 and including screw holes 20a, the first unit 14a including a lock 22 and a locking bar 24 operated by the lock 22. The second unit 14b comprises a front face 16b and an opposite rear face 18b parallel to the front face 16b, the rear face 18b for connecting to the vehicle 12 and including screw holes 20b, the second unit 14b including a cavity 26 to receive the locking bar 24 of the first unit 14a when operated by the lock 22 of the first unit 14a. The first unit 14a further comprises a slanted edge 28a connecting the front face 16a to the rear face 18a and comprising one or more teeth 30a and one or more holes 32a. The second unit 14b further comprises a slanted edge 28b connecting the front face 16b to the rear face 18b and comprising one or more teeth 30b and one or more holes 32b. The two slanted edges 28 are arranged, when in contact, such that each tooth 30 on one edge 28 engages with a hole 32 on the other edge 28.