Door Opening Device with Protective Profile and Concealed Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door systems with protective profiles do not efficiently utilize installation space and can be visually unappealing due to visible hinges and drives.

Innovation Solution

A door system with a protective profile that conceals hinges and incorporates a drive within a cavity, allowing for a visually appealing and space-efficient design, utilizing the protective profile to pivot the door leaf.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective profile is added to prevent finger trapping, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective profile is merged with the drive housing to form a single integrated component. This combination eliminates the need for separate protective elements, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the safety function of preventing finger trapping in the gap between door leaf and door frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective profile serves multiple functions: it acts as both a safety device to prevent finger trapping and as a housing structure for the drive mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while improving safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Volume of stationary object

If the drive is placed within the protective profile cavity, then installation space utilization is improved, but the visual appearance may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The drive housing is merged with the protective profile, creating a unified structure where the drive is concealed within the cavity of the protective profile. This integration maximizes installation space utilization while maintaining a clean, seamless visual appearance from the exterior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive mechanism is nested within the cavity of the protective profile, similar to a nested doll structure. This nesting arrangement efficiently utilizes the available installation space within the protective profile while keeping the drive hidden from external view, preserving aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Shape

If the protective profile extends beyond the door hinges to conceal them, then visual appearance is improved, but the length of the protective profile increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual appearanceVSAvoidprotective profile length
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective profile is extended to overlap with the door hinges, merging their visual appearance into a unified concealed structure. This extension hides the hinges within the protective profile's length, creating a seamless visual appearance while the increased length is accepted as part of the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4431694B1Door opening and closing device
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 ATHMER
  • EP4431694B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a door system comprising a door leaf (1), a door frame (2), several hinges (3) and a protective profile (4), wherein the door leaf (1) is pivotably arranged on the door frame (2) via the hinges (2), wherein the door leaf (1) can be moved from an open state to a closed state and vice versa by a pivoting movement, wherein the protective profile (4) is arranged between an upper hinge (3) and a lower hinge (3) and at least partially covers a gap between the door leaf (1) and the door frame (2) when the door leaf (1) is open, wherein the protective profile (4) has a cavity, and a drive is arranged in the cavity which is configured to cause the pivoting movement.