Window Vent Stop Spring Leg Compression Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window vent stop devices require tight tolerances and clamping forces that can damage the window sash or stop when removed, and are not forgiving of uneven sash thickness or imperfect openings, leading to potential ejection during weather changes.
Innovation Solution
A window vent stop with a housing and spring leg configuration that compresses parallel to the longitudinal axis, allowing for snap-lock installation and easy removal without damage, using a notch and projection to secure the stop in place regardless of sash thickness or opening precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring legs are configured to clamp the sash between the spring leg and peripheral flange, then the vent stop is secured in place, but removal becomes practically impossible without damage to the stop device or window sash
Solution Approach 1:
The spring leg is divided into two functional segments: a clamping portion that engages the sash material and a projection portion that engages a corresponding recess in the housing. This segmentation allows the spring leg to provide secure clamping while enabling removal through manipulation of the projection, resolving the contradiction between reliable securing and ease of removal
Solution Approach 2:
The projection on the spring leg acts as an intermediary element that transfers the removal force from the housing to the spring leg, allowing controlled release of the clamping force. This intermediary mechanism enables damage-free removal while maintaining secure installation during normal use
2Reliability
If clamping forces are directed against the thickness of the sash material, then the vent stop is held securely, but uneven or inconsistent sash thickness negatively impacts the clamping effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The spring leg is designed with inherent elasticity and flexibility, allowing it to dynamically adjust its clamping force to accommodate variations in sash thickness. The spring leg can compress and extend to maintain optimal contact pressure regardless of whether the sash thickness is uniform or uneven, thereby maintaining secure holding while adapting to different sash conditions
3Reliability
If tight tolerances are used in cutting the opening in the sash, then proper contact between the spring leg and sash material is ensured, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring leg's dimensional parameters are designed with built-in compensation margins that accommodate normal variations in sash opening dimensions. By incorporating these parameter changes, the system maintains reliable contact between the spring leg and sash material without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving installation reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a secure and damage-free installation and removal process, accommodating uneven sash materials and imperfect openings, ensuring the vent stop remains in place even under varying weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Once inserted into an opening in the sash, the spring leg is under compression to bias the housing against the sash
Data Source
AI summary
A window vent stop is disclosed having a housing with a peripheral flange defining an opening, and a body depending from the peripheral flange. A stop block is mounted within the body of the housing for movement between an open position wherein a portion of the stop block protrudes above the peripheral flange and a closed position. A spring leg is located on a bottom end of the housing and flexes toward the housing when under compression, providing compressive force along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing when the window vent stop is inserted into an opening in a window sash. By applying force to further compress the spring leg, the vent stop can be readily removed from the window sash without damage.