Composite Glass Door Assembly Without Vertical Supports

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigeration units with transparent glass doors lack structural reinforcement that maintains visibility while ensuring stability, as traditional vertical supports obstruct the view and existing connections are insufficient.

Innovation Solution

A laminated glass pane composed of multiple glass panes connected with a transparent hardened adhesive, reinforced by a strip-like profile of transparent hardened plastic or metal, forming a composite surface that maintains structural integrity without obstructing the view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If vertical supports or struts are added to reinforce the glass door structure, then structural stability is improved, but visibility into the interior goods compartment is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidvisibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The glass door is divided into multiple individual glass panes (at least two) that are connected to each other. This segmentation allows the structure to gain strength through the composite arrangement while maintaining transparency, as each pane remains visually unobstructed and the connections are minimized to essential areas only.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure combining multiple glass panes with adhesive material and reinforcement elements. The glass panes provide transparency and structural integrity, while the adhesive and reinforcement provide additional bonding strength. This composite approach enables the door to achieve the required mechanical stability without adding opaque vertical supports that would block visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If multiple glass panes are connected with adhesive, then structural integrity is improved, but connection strength is insufficient without additional reinforcement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidconnection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple reinforcement approaches by combining adhesive material with additional reinforcement elements (such as profile structures or edge reinforcements). The adhesive provides baseline bonding between glass panes, while the reinforcement elements supplement this connection strength, creating a multi-layered bonding system that addresses both structural integrity and connection strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system uses a composite of adhesive material and reinforcement elements (metal, plastic, or other materials). This composite connection structure provides both the flexibility and bonding capability of adhesive and the structural strength of reinforcement elements, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity through adhesive while achieving sufficient connection strength through additional reinforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3367027A1Glass assembly, in particular as a component of a refrigeration appliance
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 PAN DUR HLDG GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3367027A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3367027A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3367027A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a composite pane (73) comprising two glass panes (17), each of which has an inner side (71), an outer side (72) and a plurality of end faces (70) running between the inner side (71) and the outer side (72). , wherein the glass panes (17) are connected in the region of one of their end faces (70) in such a way that the inner sides (71) form a common inner surface (68) and the outer sides (72) form a common outer surface (69). According to the invention, the glass panes (17) are connected at least in sections with the aid of a transparently hardened adhesive (44), the adhesive (44) extending between two opposite end faces (70) of the glass panes (17) and beyond an area of ​​the Inner sides (71) of the glass panes (17) covered, which adjoins the end faces (70) of the glass panes (17) connected to the adhesive (44).