Window Lock with Movable Abutment for Anti-Tamper Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window locks, particularly for vinyl casement and awning windows, are vulnerable to being opened by burglars using tools to bend the sash and release the latch, as they rely on simple mechanical mechanisms that can be easily manipulated.
Innovation Solution
A lock design featuring a body extending through the sash and frame with a head on one end and a movable abutment on the other, which can bear against the frame to lock the window or pass through a hole to allow opening, optionally with adjustable length and a spring mechanism to enhance security and sealing, preventing accidental movement and tool-based tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple mechanical latch mechanism is used for window closing, then the window can be easily latched and unlatched, but the window becomes vulnerable to tool-based tampering and sash bending
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a body that extends through the sash and frame, a head that bears on the sash, and a movable abutment that bears on the frame. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while creating a distributed resistance pattern that prevents tool-based tampering at any single point.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The abutment can slide and rotate on a pin in a slot, enabling it to adapt to slight variations in window geometry while maintaining continuous contact with the frame to prevent opening.
2Ease of manufacture
If the lock body is made with fixed length, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the lock cannot accommodate various window dimensions and materials
Solution Approach 1:
The body is designed with variable length capability, allowing it to be adjusted to accommodate different window dimensions. This dynamic adjustment feature enables the same lock design to fit various window sizes and materials without requiring multiple fixed-length versions, balancing manufacturing simplicity with adaptability.
3Reliability
If the abutment is designed to bear continuously against the frame, then the window sealing is improved, but the abutment may be subjected to excessive forces that could cause failure
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment's contact parameters with the frame are optimized to distribute forces effectively. By designing the abutment to slide and rotate on a pin in a slot, the contact area and force distribution are adjusted to maintain continuous sealing while preventing excessive stress concentration that could cause failure.
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 lock effectively secures windows by preventing unauthorized opening and providing a secure, adjustable solution that can be retrofitted or integrated into new windows, enhancing security and sealing while accommodating various window dimensions and materials.
Implementation Method 1
a spring may be provided over the body which, in an extended position, extends across a portion of the abutment
Data Source
AI summary
A lock has a body for extending through the sash and frame of a closed window. A head attached to a first end of the body bears on the outside of the sash. A movable abutment attached to a second end of the body may be positioned (a) so as to bear against the inside of the frame when the window is latched or locked or (b) so as to be able to pass through a hole in the frame to allow the window to be opened. Optionally, the body may have a variable length. Optionally, a plug or seal may be provided in the frame to close a hole in the frame when the window is open. Optionally, the abutment may slide and rotate on a pin in a slot at the second end of the body. Optionally, the abutment may slide and rotate on a pin in a slot at the second end of the body. Optionally, a spring may be provided over the body which, in an extended position, extends across a portion of the abutment.