L-Shaped Flexible Element for Door Leaf Finger Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door designs lack comprehensive finger protection, especially at the secondary closing edge, while also failing to provide optimal stability, soundproofing, fire and smoke protection, and suitability for wet and damp environments without compromising room closure or sealing functions.
Innovation Solution
A door panel with an L-shaped flexible element that covers the crush-critical areas on the door leaf, detachably connected via a tongue and groove or adhesive method, ensuring flexibility for finger protection and stability for sealing and soundproofing, made from materials like aluminum to enhance durability without significant weight increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hollow profile is inserted in a cutout in the door leaf edge to protect against finger crushing, then finger protection is improved, but the stability and sealing function of the door leaf deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible element is divided into two perpendicular arms forming an L-shape: one arm extends along the hinge edge and the other along the band edge. This segmentation allows each arm to independently protect specific crush-critical areas while maintaining overall structural integrity of the door leaf
Solution Approach 2:
The L-shaped flexible element is inserted into an L-shaped recess that is milled into the door leaf edge. The flexible element nests within this pre-formed recess, allowing finger protection without requiring extensive material removal and preserving the door leaf's external geometry and stability
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the flexible element covers the entire crush-critical area including the hinge edge, then finger protection is improved, but the room closure and sealing function deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible element is positioned locally at the crush-critical areas (hinge edge and band edge) rather than covering the entire door leaf. The L-shaped recess is strategically located to accommodate the flexible element while preserving the door leaf's external geometry and sealing surfaces, ensuring both finger protection and maintained sealing function
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 enhanced finger protection, maintains door stability and sealing effectiveness, and can be retrofitted into existing door assemblies, ensuring safety and performance in various environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the resilience of the plastic profile is selected such that the resistance forces exerted by a human finger against compression are readily sufficient for the complete compression of the hollow profile
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A door leaf (7) is provided for a door assembly (1) comprising a hinge side (71), a hinge opposite side (72), a hinge edge (73), a lock edge (74), and a flexible element (9), wherein the flexible element (9) is provided on the hinge opposite side (72) and the hinge edge (73) of the door leaf (7). The object of the present invention is to provide a door leaf (7) for a door assembly (1) that, with optimal stability regarding room closure and airtightness and without compromising door functions such as sound insulation, fire and smoke protection, and/or suitability for wet and humid rooms, ensures improved finger protection. For this purpose, the flexible element (9), which is preferably to be used on the secondary closing edge, is essentially L-shaped in cross-section.