Bi-fold Door Module Living Hinge and Paddle Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft lavatory doors, particularly bi-fold doors, can be difficult for passengers and crew to open due to their design, which often requires a push motion that is not intuitive, posing a challenge within the confined and safety-regulated space of aircraft interiors.
Innovation Solution
A door module with a bi-fold door mechanism featuring a living hinge, latching assembly, and paddle handles that are intuitively positioned and shaped to facilitate easy opening and closing, including interlocking nesting members and a secure locking mechanism to prevent accidental opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bi-fold door mechanism is used in an aircraft lavatory, then the door can provide secure closure and meet safety requirements, but the door becomes difficult to open due to non-intuitive operation
Solution Approach 1:
A paddle handle is introduced as an intermediary element between the user and the door mechanism. The paddle handle provides an intuitive gripping surface that clearly indicates the pulling direction, mediating the user's action to properly operate the bi-fold door latching mechanism while maintaining secure closure
2Ease of operation
If the door handle is designed to indicate pull direction intuitively, then user operation becomes easier, but the door mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is segmented into distinct functional components: the bi-fold door panels, the living hinge mechanism, the latching assembly with locking bolt, and the separate paddle handle. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the handle provides intuitive operation while the underlying mechanism maintains security without requiring the handle itself to be mechanically complex
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 door module enhances user intuitiveness and safety by clearly indicating the pull direction for the handle and securely locking the door in place, preventing accidental opening during use, thus improving passenger and crew access while adhering to weight and space constraints.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second panels are pivotably connected together by a living hinge
Implementation Method 2
The outer edge of the first panel includes a first nesting member thereon, an inner edge of the wall adjacent the outer edge of the first panel includes a second nesting member thereon
Implementation Method 3
The latching assembly operates an elongated locking bolt, the first securing member includes a first tunnel defined therein, and the locking bolt extends through and above the first tunnel
Data Source
AI summary
A door module for a vehicle lavatory that includes a bi-fold door having a first panel and a second panel each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The first and second panels are pivotably connected together by a living hinge. The living hinge includes a hinge member that extends between first and second securing members, wherein the first securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the first panel and the second securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the second panel.