Elastic Finger Guard Profile for Sliding Door Gap Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing finger protection devices for sliding doors and gates are complex in design and lack adjustability, allowing potential gaps that can lead to finger entrapment and inadequate protection, especially for children and elderly users.

Innovation Solution

A simple, adjustable finger protection device with elastic rubber or plastic components that aligns with the sliding door without contact, featuring a parallel sliding surface lip to reduce contact pressure and increase protection, with adjustable air gaps up to 4 mm for optimal safety and easy installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a brush-like support element with elastic bristles is used, then finger protection is provided, but the device complexity increases and gaps may still allow finger entrapment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefinger protectionVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential protective function from complex brush structures and implements it through a simpler elastic sealing profile that can be adhered to the door edge, eliminating the need for complex mounting mechanisms while maintaining finger protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state from rigid brush bristles to elastic material that can deform, allowing the protective element to conform to the door edge and fill gaps dynamically, thereby improving protection reliability with simpler construction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the air gap between finger protection device and sliding door is reduced to minimal size, then finger protection is improved, but the risk of contact damage and wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefinger protectionVSAvoidcontact damage and wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies beforehand cushioning by using elastic material that can deform upon contact, absorbing impact energy before it can cause damage to the door or the protective device, thus allowing minimal gaps without contact damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a flexible elastic sealing profile that can bend and deform, creating a compliant protective barrier that maintains minimal gap for safety while preventing rigid contact that would cause wear and damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If a parallel sliding surface lip is added to enlarge contact surface, then contact pressure is reduced and protection is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the protective device into distinct functional parts: the adhesive base for mounting, the elastic sealing profile for gap filling, and the parallel sliding surface lip for pressure distribution, allowing each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 device ensures complete contactless operation, preventing finger entrapment and wear, while allowing easy door movement, enhancing accessibility and safety by maintaining a minimal air gap and reducing the risk of damage or noise during operation.

Implementation Method 1

The use of an elastic rubber or plastic material also advantageously ensures sufficient flexibility of the sliding surface, so that damage to a door leaf in the event of unwanted mutual contact or mutual sliding contact is nevertheless completely avoided.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the sliding surface is flocked, such as sealing profiles of motor vehicle side windows, so that if there is contact between the finger protection device and the sliding door, which is undesirable in principle, for example if it wobbles sideways when you operate it or you is slightly bent or curved over its length and width, no damage to the door leaf, such as scratches, can occur, as well as any grinding noises would be completely absorbed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3321465B1Finger guard on a sliding door or gate
Publication Date: 2019.05.29 ATHMER
  • EP3321465B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3321465B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3321465B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

A finger protection device is provided for a sliding door or sliding gate, consisting of a mounting profile (4;5;6) arranged laterally on a frame (2) or wall of a sliding door (1) or sliding gate, with a support element (7;8;9), which is of simple construction and designed in such a way that an air gap of a determinable width can be adjusted, which is achieved by the support element (7;8;9) being a functional profile (10;11;12) made of elastic rubber or plastic material, which has an engagement area (13), and the mounting profile (4;5;6) having a receiving section (14), wherein the engagement area (13) is latched in the receiving section (14), and the support element (7;8;9) having a parallel sliding surface (15) directed towards a surface of a sliding door (1), which is spaced apart from it to maintain a minimum air gap (16).