Angled Flange Coupling for Kennel Door Rigidity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current animal kennels face a trade-off between rigidity for safety and flexibility to prevent damage during impacts, with two-layer rotomolded designs being too harsh and single-layer designs lacking sufficient rigidity.
Innovation Solution
An animal kennel system featuring a door frame with angled connecting flanges that couple to protrusions on the kennel body, providing structural reinforcement while maintaining lightweight and safety for the animal and surroundings, using a combination of metal and over-molded plastic materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If two-layer rotomolded designs are used, then impact resistance and rigidity are improved, but the kennel becomes too harsh and may damage the animal or surroundings upon impact
Solution Approach 1:
The kennel body is divided into two distinct layers: an inner single-layer rotomolded body and an outer two-layer rotomolded reinforcement structure. This segmentation allows the inner layer to provide flexibility and safety for the animal, while the outer layer adds rigidity and impact resistance. The flange coupling portions connect these layers at strategic locations to enhance structural strength without making the entire kennel overly rigid.
Solution Approach 2:
The kennel combines two different rotomolded structures with distinct properties. The single-layer rotomolded inner body provides flexibility and cushioning, while the two-layer rotomolded outer structure provides rigidity and impact resistance. This composite approach allows the kennel to exhibit both soft and hard characteristics simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between protection and harm reduction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If single-layer rotomolded designs are used, then flexibility and reduced harm upon impact are improved, but the kennel lacks sufficient rigidity to protect the animal during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The kennel is segmented into an inner single-layer rotomolded body that maintains flexibility and a outer two-layer rotomolded reinforcement structure that provides rigidity. The flange coupling portions strategically connect these segments, allowing the inner layer to remain soft and safe for the animal while the outer layer provides structural strength for impact protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The design uses a composite structure combining single-layer and two-layer rotomolded sections. The single-layer portion provides flexibility and reduced harshness, while the two-layer portion adds the necessary rigidity. This composite material approach enables the kennel to simultaneously achieve both flexibility and strength.
3Strength
If flange coupling portions with transverse planes are used, then structural rigidity is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange coupling portions are integrated directly into the door frame structure, merging the reinforcement function with the existing frame components. This consolidation adds rigidity through the transverse plane geometry while avoiding the need for separate, complex reinforcement structures, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations include an animal kennel door system. The system includes a door frame and a door. The door frame includes a frame body and one or more connecting flanges. The frame body defines a frame opening, and each of the one or more connecting flanges extends from the frame body away from the frame opening. The one or more connecting flanges has at least one coupling surface. The coupling surface has at least a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion. The door is hingedly coupled to a portion of the frame body. A portion of the first and second flange coupling portions each lie in a different plane, and the planes are transverse to each other.