Multi-functional Doorstop Tool with Telescoping Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional doorstops cause damage to doors when kicked into place and lead to back injuries due to repeated bending, and are inaccessible for the elderly or handicapped who cannot bend down to use them.
Innovation Solution
A tool with a double wedge and tongue design that can be inserted between a door and another surface to hold it open, combined with a telescoping handle and magnetic system for easy retrieval and storage, allowing for multiple insertion points and reducing the need for manual bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional doorstop is kicked into place under the door, then the door is held open, but damage is caused to the door
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inserting the doorstop from below (conventional method), this invention inserts the doorstop from above the door. The tapered wedge is positioned between the top edge of the door and the door frame, inverting the traditional insertion direction to eliminate kicking damage while maintaining the door-holding function
Solution Approach 2:
The doorstop is divided into multiple functional segments: a tapered wedge for insertion, a horizontal bar for spanning the door frame, and a vertical bar for providing structural support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while working together to hold the door open without damage
2Reliability
If a doorstop is placed under the lower edge of the door by bending over, then the door is held open, but back stress and injury are caused
Solution Approach 1:
The doorstop operation is moved from the horizontal plane (bending down to place under door) to the vertical plane (reaching up to place above door). The vertical orientation of insertion allows users to operate the doorstop from a standing position, eliminating back bending while achieving the same door-holding result
Solution Approach 2:
The door frame serves as an intermediary structure that facilitates doorstop placement. By positioning the horizontal bar against the door frame and the tapered wedge against the top edge of the door, the system uses the existing door frame structure as a mediator to enable easy placement without bending
3Reliability
If a doorstop is placed under the lower edge of the door, then the door is held open, but the action is inaccessible for the elderly or handicapped
Solution Approach 1:
The doorstop is repositioned from the floor level (inaccessible to many) to the vertical dimension near the top edge of the door. This dimensional change makes the doorstop accessible to elderly and handicapped individuals who cannot bend down, as they can reach upward more easily than downward
Solution Approach 2:
The doorstop design allows users to independently place and retrieve it without assistance. The telescoping handle with grip enables easy manipulation, and the self-contained structure requires no tools or additional mechanisms, making it fully self-service capable for users with mobility limitations
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 tool effectively holds doors open without causing damage and reduces back strain by allowing for easy placement and retrieval without bending, making it suitable for various professions and individuals with mobility issues.
Implementation Method 1
The handle is capable of telescoping between an extended position and a retracted position and has a magnet for attracting the magnetic material of the tool
Data Source
AI summary
A tool includes a double wedge, a tongue, and a wedge. The double wedge has a top surface, a bottom surface, a front, a rear, a right side, and a left side. The tongue extends from the front of the double wedge and the wedge extends from the rear of the double wedge. Either the tongue or the wedge can be inserted between a door and another surface to hold the door open.