Concealed Door Opening System with Foot Grip Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional door opening systems pose safety risks due to protruding handles that can cause bruises and injuries to users.

Innovation Solution

A concealed door opening system with a gripping mechanism that allows force to be applied via the foot, eliminating the need for a protruding handle and enabling hands-free operation while maintaining clearance for feet and toes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a protruding handle is used to open the door, then the door can be easily opened by hand, but it causes safety risks of bruises and injuries to users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of door openingVSAvoidinjury risk from protruding handle

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the traditional protruding handle from the door system entirely. Instead, a gripping mechanism is attached to the interior surface of the door, allowing users to pull the door open without any protruding elements on the exterior that could cause injury.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The gripping mechanism is positioned on the interior surface of the door rather than having a handle protrude from the exterior. This inversion of the traditional handle placement allows users to grip and pull the door from the inside surface, eliminating the safety hazard while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the handle is concealed without protrusion, then safety risk is reduced, but it becomes difficult to apply force to open the door

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjury risk reductionVSAvoidease of applying force

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping mechanism utilizes the interior surface of the door as a new dimensional plane for interaction. By placing the grip on the inside surface rather than protruding from the outside, the system maintains safety while providing sufficient surface area for users to apply opening force effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The gripping mechanism serves as an intermediary element attached to the door's interior surface. It provides a dedicated interface for users to apply force without requiring a protruding handle, thus mediating between the safety requirement and the operational requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a conventional handle is used, then hands can grip to open the door, but hands are not free for other tasks and feet may be injured by violent closure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehand gripping capabilityVSAvoidhands-free operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The door opening system is designed to accommodate multiple methods of operation. The gripping mechanism can be operated by hand when needed, but the system also allows for foot operation, providing versatility and enabling hands-free operation when users need their hands available for other tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides dynamic flexibility in operation methods. Users can choose to operate the door with their hand using the gripping mechanism or with their foot, adapting to different situational needs such as carrying items or maintaining hygiene.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10100566B1Concealed door opening system

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 CHANDRA SUWANDI

AI summary

A cabinet structure includes a frame having a plurality of panels; a door pivotally secure to a panel of the plurality of panels; a foot bracket secured to the door, the foot bracket forming a c-shaped structure having an opening configured to receive a foot therein; a door stop secured to an outer surface of the foot bracket and configured to engage with the frame and configured to secure the door in a locked positioned; and a foot grip disposed within the opening of the foot bracket and configured to engage with the foot.