Prefabricated Door Seal with Projecting Flaps for Moisture Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door sealing technologies, particularly for side entrance doors, fail to provide a reliable and easy-to-install seal against moisture penetration, especially when using thresholds suitable for the disabled, due to complex constructions and inadequate rear-proof sealing.
Innovation Solution
A prefabricated sealing part with a rigid base body, two sealing foils, and flexible webs that protrude to form sealing flaps, which can be welded or glued to the base body, and engage with the window frame and threshold grooves for a secure seal, using thermoplastic materials like PVC and elastomers for enhanced durability and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex sealing system with gusset plates and sealing membranes is used, then lateral sealing between frame and masonry is achieved, but the overall device complexity increases and rear-proof sealing becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single integrated sealing part that includes a base body, first sealing film, and second sealing film. This unified structure simultaneously provides rear-proof sealing, lateral sealing, and threshold sealing, eliminating the need for separate gusset plates and multiple sealing membranes, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable watertight sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing part is designed as a multi-functional component where the base body provides structural support and engagement with the frame, the first sealing film seals the rear area between frame and masonry, and the second sealing film seals the threshold area. This universal sealing part performs multiple sealing functions that previously required separate components.
2Ease of operation
If low thresholds are used for accessibility, then barrier-free access is improved, but the sealing requirement against moisture penetration becomes more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the sealing challenge of low thresholds by extending the sealing protection into a new dimensional space - the sealing flap projects forward from the threshold area to create an additional sealing dimension. This allows the threshold to remain low for accessibility while the extended sealing flap prevents water from penetrating behind the threshold, thus maintaining watertight sealing without compromising accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing flap is pre-formed as part of the sealing part during manufacturing, extending beyond the base body to anticipate and prevent water infiltration at the threshold area. This preliminary sealing structure is already in place before installation, ensuring that even with low thresholds, the sealing function is preemptively secured against moisture penetration.
3Ease of manufacture
If sealing membranes are factory-installed on the threshold, then some sealing is achieved, but the lateral seal can only be prefabricated to a limited extent and reliable rear-proof sealing is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the threshold sealing membrane and the rear sealing membrane into a single integrated sealing part with a base body and two sealing films. This allows the entire assembly to be prefabricated to a much greater extent at the factory, including the complex rear-proof sealing geometry that would be difficult to achieve with separate field-installed components.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing part is designed to be extensively pre-assembled and pre-sealed at the factory, with the base body, first sealing film, and second sealing film all integrated before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary fabrication includes the complex rear-proof sealing geometry and material-bonded connections, reducing on-site installation complexity and ensuring consistent sealing quality.
4Reliability
If material-bonded connection by welding is used for sealing membranes, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies particular material properties and bonding parameters that enable reliable material-bonded connections. The sealing films are made from materials with suitable thermal and mechanical properties that allow for effective welding or vulcanizing processes. By optimizing material parameters and bonding conditions, the patent achieves reliable material-bonded sealing while keeping the manufacturing process manageable through standardized procedures.
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 simple, reliable, and effective seal against moisture, ensuring the door is securely sealed from behind, even with disabled-access thresholds, by forming a tight connection between the window frame, threshold, and substructure profile, effectively preventing water ingress during heavy rain.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing membranes can consist, in particular, of PVC-P, thermoplastic elastomers, weldable EPDM, or the like, provided that they can be tightly, and especially materially, bonded to each other and to the base body by welding, vulcanizing, bonding, or the like. A material-bonded connection by welding is preferred.
Implementation Method 2
The sealing membranes can consist, in particular, of PVC-P, thermoplastic elastomers, weldable EPDM, or the like, provided that they can be tightly, and especially materially, bonded to each other and to the base body by welding, vulcanizing, bonding, or the like.
Implementation Method 3
the base body is sealed against the back of the frame and the end faces of the sill and the bottom profile using an elastic sealant, such as silicone sealant
Implementation Method 4
the base body has a soft, elastic sealing layer, especially made of sponge rubber, on its side facing the back of the frame
Data Source
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AI summary
For the purpose of sealing a door against a masonry opening against water ingress, a prefabricated sealing element (8, 8') is proposed, comprising a rigid base body, a first sealing film and a second sealing film, wherein the first sealing film and the second sealing film are tightly connected to the rigid base body and, in each case, project beyond the base body, forming a sealing flap extending from the base body, particularly on one side.