StepNLock

Sliding-door security has long meant wall-mounted latches, a stick wedged in the track, or a lock you have to bend down to reach. StepNLock is an attempt to rethink that. According to its creators, Jimmy and Trinh, the idea came during the pandemic, when their children were opening and closing the backyard sliding door far more often and the couple grew frustrated with their wooden security bar.

The result, the maker says, uses a proprietary mechanism covered by US patent US11976504B2. The patent protection is said to extend to the internal lever mechanism, the telescoping bar, the hinged base, the bumper pads and the front roller. On Kickstarter, the project is reported to have raised more than 10 times its funding goal.

How it works

StepNLock is placed directly in the sliding door's track, with no tools, screws or drilling, which the maker positions as a fit for renters and for anyone who moves often. After closing the door, you step on the device to lock it; stepping on it again raises the bar so the door can slide open. The campaign frames this hands-free operation as easier on the back for older people, those with back pain, pregnant users and children.

• Front roller intended to keep door movement smooth and quiet
• Adjustable length for common 5-foot or 6-foot patio sliding doors, with other sizes handled via a post-campaign survey or by contacting the developers
• All-metal frame designed to resist forced opening, according to the maker
• Curved tunnel-shaped underside that clears the metal ridge found in many door tracks
• Metal anchor plate to keep the device seated in the track
• Slim, low-profile design in the original white, plus a black version added through a stretch goal

The team says it has spent the past year refining prototypes and testing them in real-world use. Beyond homes, the maker suggests StepNLock could suit offices and shops with sliding doors.