Door Frame Structure with Ventilation Channels

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current door frame structures, typically made of wood, are prone to moisture-related damages in damp environments due to inadequate air circulation and moisture penetration, leading to paint peeling, swelling, and functional issues.

Innovation Solution

A door frame structure design that includes a protective cover extending beyond the lower end and strategically placed moldings to allow air circulation, with the moldings featuring apertures for airflow, creating a ventilation channel to prevent moisture buildup and promote drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the door frame is made of wood and attached to a wooden threshold, then the structure is simple and aesthetically pleasing, but moisture accumulates leading to mold formation and water damages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidmoisture damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The door frame structure is segmented into multiple functional parts: the door frame itself, a protective cover extending beyond the lower end, and moldings with apertures. This segmentation creates distinct zones for different functions - the protective cover forms a skirt to redirect water, while the moldings create ventilation channels, allowing the structure to address both simplicity and moisture protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover acts as an intermediary element between the door frame and the threshold. It extends beyond the lower end of the door frame to form a skirt that redirects water away from the threshold area, preventing direct contact between moisture and the wooden structures while maintaining the simple wooden construction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the door frame uses a closed design attached to the threshold, then the structure is stable and secure, but air circulation is blocked causing moisture buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmoisture accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The moldings are designed with different local qualities - they are attached to the door frame at certain points to maintain structural stability, but include apertures and create gaps at critical locations (lower end and upper end) to enable air circulation. This local differentiation allows the structure to be both stable and ventilated

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover extends in a new dimension beyond the lower end of the door frame to form a skirt. This dimensional extension creates a new spatial zone that redirects water flow away from the threshold, adding a protective function without compromising the stability of the original door frame structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the lower end of the frame is painted for moisture protection, then the appearance is protected, but the paint does not provide long-term protection against moisture penetration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection applicationVSAvoidmoisture protection durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical/mechanical protection method (paint coating) with a structural/physical protection method (ventilation channels and water redirection). The moldings with apertures create active air circulation that physically removes moisture, while the protective cover skirt physically redirects water away, providing more reliable and durable protection than paint alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If room is left between the door frame and threshold for air circulation, then moisture protection is improved, but the structural connection is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture protectionVSAvoidstructural connection
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the door frame and threshold. It extends down to form a skirt that contacts or nears the threshold, maintaining the air circulation gap for moisture protection while providing its own structural connection path, thus preserving both ventilation and structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances the lifespan of door frame structures by facilitating air circulation, which helps in keeping the structures dry and preventing moisture-related damages, thereby extending their functional life.

Implementation Method 1

The door frame structure according to the invention enables air circulation in the structures, which, in turn, may keep the structures dry

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir circulation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the molding being arranged to the door frame so that air circulates through the lower end of the molding into the room between the molding and the door frame and/or the molding and the wall, and wherein the air flows through the upper end of the molding out of the structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3404185B1Door frame structure
Publication Date: 2022.09.28 PANELIA WOODS
  • EP3404185B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3404185B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3404185B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6a

AI summary

The present invention relates to a door frame structure comprising a door frame, a door frame protective cover, the protective cover extending beyond the lower end of the door frame so that when the door frame is installed in a door opening, room is left between the door frame and the threshold in order to allow air to circulate in the structures, and at least one molding, wherein room is left between the molding and the door frame and/or the molding and the wall for air to circulate in the structures, the molding being arranged to the door frame so that air circulates through the lower end of the molding into the room between the molding and the door frame and/or the molding and the wall, and wherein the air flows through the upper end of the molding out of the structure.