C-Shaped Front Post Centering for Retractable Sliding Doors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for in-wall casings of retractable sliding doors require users to manually center and position components, which is time-consuming and requires skill, often leading to malfunctions and increased encumbrances due to incorrect placement.

Innovation Solution

A C-shaped front post with a flat base and lateral wings, featuring a W-shaped seat for a screw that securely couples with a cross-member, allowing for stable and easy alignment without specialized tools, utilizing inclined surfaces to ensure correct positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional metallic profiles are used for in-wall casings, then the structure can be assembled from kit components, but the user must manually center and position components which is time-consuming and requires skill

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAssembly easeVSAvoidAssembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The front post is pre-configured with a W-shaped seat that automatically guides and centers the cross-member during assembly. This preliminary positioning feature eliminates the need for manual centering operations, allowing workers to simply connect components without time-consuming adjustment procedures while maintaining assembly simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The W-shaped seat acts as an intermediary element between the front post and cross-member, providing a built-in centering mechanism. This intermediary feature automatically establishes correct positioning and alignment, replacing the need for external centering tools and skilled manual positioning operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional metallic profiles are used for in-wall casings, then the structure can be assembled from kit components, but incorrect placement may cause malfunctions in door sliding

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAssembly easeVSAvoidSliding performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The W-shaped seat serves as a positioning intermediary that ensures the cross-member is automatically centered and correctly positioned relative to the front post. This built-in guidance mechanism guarantees proper alignment, eliminating placement errors that could cause sliding malfunctions while keeping the assembly process simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The front post with W-shaped seat performs self-centering functionality, automatically establishing correct positioning of the cross-member without requiring external tools or skilled intervention. The structure serves its own positioning needs, ensuring reliable sliding performance through inherent design features rather than dependent on operator skill

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If manual centering operations are required, then components can be positioned correctly, but specialized tools and skills are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePositioning precisionVSAvoidAssembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The W-shaped seat provides self-centering capability, automatically achieving precise positioning of the cross-member without requiring external centering tools or skilled operators. The front post structure serves its own positioning requirements, delivering manufacturing precision through inherent design rather than dependent on operator expertise or specialized equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The W-shaped seat acts as a built-in intermediary mechanism that automatically establishes precise alignment between components. This intermediary feature performs the centering function that would otherwise require external tools and skilled operations, maintaining positioning precision while simplifying the assembly process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2886735B1Centering element, particularly for front posts for in-wall frames of retractable sliding doors
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 ECLISSE
  • EP2886735B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2886735B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2886735B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A front post (1) for in-wall frames of retractable sliding doors, which has a substantially C-shaped shape structure so as to define a base (2) and a first pair of lateral wings (3a, 3b), at least one hole (5) being defined, proximate to a lower end (4) of the base (2), for coupling, by temporary locking means (6), with the end of a cross-member (8), the base (2) having an inclined surface (12) that is adapted to force, upon tightening the locking means (6), the cross-member (8) against one of the first pair of lateral wings (3a, 3b) of the front post (1).