Anti-ligature Door Hardware with Sensor-Actuated Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door hardware designs fail to prevent suicide attempts by removing all door hardware, which compromises privacy and security, while current anti-suicide designs focus on making traditional anchor points difficult to use but not eliminating them entirely.
Innovation Solution
A door hardware assembly with a closing element and actuator that allows for operation without traditional ligature anchor points, utilizing touch and proximity sensors to control the locking mechanism, ensuring privacy and security while preventing ligature use, and incorporating auxiliary sensors for enhanced safety features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional door hardware (door knobs, latches, thumb turns, hinges) is streamlined to make them more difficult to use as anchor points for ligatures, then suicide prevention is improved, but traditional anchor points still remain and can potentially be used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional door hardware components (door knobs, latches, thumb turns, hinges) that can serve as ligature anchor points, extracting these harmful elements from the door assembly while maintaining door functionality through alternative mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The door hardware is divided into separate functional components: the door operator mechanism for normal operation and the closing element for security, allowing each to be optimized independently for their respective functions while eliminating ligature risks
2Object-affected harmful factors
If all door hardware is removed to eliminate ligature anchor points, then suicide prevention is improved, but privacy and security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical door hardware is replaced with a card-operated electromagnetic locking system where a card reader and actuator mechanism control the closing element, eliminating mechanical ligature points while maintaining security and privacy functions
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element serves multiple functions: it provides security by preventing unauthorized opening, maintains privacy by blocking visibility, and eliminates ligature anchor points, while being controlled by a universal card access system
3Ease of operation
If door hardware is designed to allow normal door operation with privacy and security, then ease of operation is improved, but traditional ligature anchor points (door knobs, levers) remain and can be used for suicide attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes traditional ligature-prone components (door knobs, levers, protruding elements) from the door hardware design, retaining only flush-mounted or recessed components that cannot serve as anchor points
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making traditional hardware ligature-resistant, the design inverts the approach by completely eliminating traditional hardware and using a card-operated electronic system with a closing element that has no protruding parts that could be used for ligatures
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 enables secure and private door operation without traditional ligature anchor points, effectively preventing suicide attempts and providing enhanced safety features such as automatic door opening and warning systems.
Implementation Method 1
At least one actuation sensor is provided on the privacy side of the door, the at least one actuation sensor causing the open command to be communicated to the actuator in response to an object being sensed within a threshold distance of the at least one actuation sensor
Implementation Method 2
at least one auxiliary sensor is provided on the privacy side of the door and providing at least one enhanced safety feature
Data Source
AI summary
A door hardware assembly for a door having privacy and accessible sides includes a closing element moveable between a retracted position where the door is freely openable and an extended position where the door is maintained in a closed position when closed, and an actuator operably connected to the closing element, the actuator moving the closing element from the extended position to the retracted position upon receipt of an open command. At least one actuation sensor is provided on the privacy side of the door, causing the open command to be communicated to the actuator in response to an object being sensed within a threshold distance thereof, and at least one auxiliary sensor is provided on the privacy side of the door and providing at least one enhanced safety feature, the at least one auxiliary sensor being separate and distinct from the at least one actuation sensor.