Concealed Door Closer in Horizontal Rail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door closers are often aesthetically unpleasing and difficult to install due to their external mounting, lacking a hidden or concealed design that simplifies installation and use.
Innovation Solution
A concealed door closer is integrated into an upper horizontal rail of a door assembly, featuring a closer body with mounting tabs and a vertical pinion connected to a biasing mechanism, which provides rotational force to move the door from an open to a closed position through a closer arm attached to a drip cap, allowing for easy installation as either a left or right hinged door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If door closers are externally mounted on the door surface, then the door closer is easily accessible for installation and maintenance, but the aesthetic appearance of the door is degraded due to the visible appendage
Solution Approach 1:
The door closer mechanism is nested within a cavity or pocket formed in the door structure itself. The closer body is received in the cavity with its operating end extending through an opening in the door surface, allowing the main body to be concealed while maintaining accessibility for operation and maintenance.
2Shape
If door closers are hidden within the door structure, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the installation complexity increases due to the need for internal mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The door structure is segmented to include a pre-formed cavity and opening specifically designed to receive the door closer. This segmentation allows the closer to be installed internally while maintaining simple access through the opening, reducing overall installation complexity despite the concealed design.
3Ease of operation
If door closers are mounted as external appendages, then the installation process is simplified, but the door closer becomes visually prominent and detracts from door aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The door closer is extracted from the traditional external mounting position and relocated to an internal cavity within the door structure. Only the necessary operating portion extends through the door surface, extracting the visual prominence while maintaining functional accessibility.
4Shape
If a concealed door closer design is implemented, then the aesthetic appeal is enhanced, but the number of components and mounting steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door closer mounting structure is merged with the door's existing structural elements. The cavity and opening are integrated into the door's framework, combining the aesthetic function of concealment with the structural requirements of the door assembly, thereby reducing the number of separate components needed.
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 provides a visually appealing and easier-to-install door closer system that effectively moves doors between open and closed positions, enhancing both aesthetics and usability by concealing the closer components within the door structure.
Implementation Method 1
a vertical pinion rotatably connected to an internal biasing mechanism such as a biasing spring and having at least one connecting stud extending through the closer body
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes various embodiments of a concealed or hidden door closer that is installed in a rail of a door assembly. In some embodiments, the door frame and door closer components are configured to allow the door assembly to be readily installed as either a left or a right hand hinged door.