Expandable Home Barrier With Face-Aligned Sliding Panels

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing residential barriers often fail to provide a versatile solution that can effectively block both large and small passageways while maintaining aesthetic appeal and minimizing the risk of finger pinching during sliding operations.

Innovation Solution

A residential barrier system with slideable sections featuring wood or wood-like panels, where the sections are engaged in a metal frame, allowing for parallel sliding with minimal overlap and hidden panel alignment, reducing the risk of finger pinching and enhancing aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional residential barriers are used to block passageways, then they can provide basic blocking functionality, but they cannot effectively adapt to both large and small passageways while maintaining aesthetic appeal and safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to various passageway sizesVSAvoidfinger pinching risk during sliding

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier is divided into multiple slideable sections with independent panels that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the barrier to adapt to different passageway sizes while the panels are designed to minimize finger pinching risks during sliding operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by aligning panels face-to-face during sliding rather than overlapping them. This dimensional change eliminates the traditional overlap gap where fingers could be pinched, while still allowing the barrier to expand and contract to fit various passageway widths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If wood panels are used in the metal frame barrier, then aesthetic appeal is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appeal with wood-like appearanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier combines metal frames with wood or wood-like panels to create a composite structure. The metal frame provides structural strength and slideability, while the wood panels provide aesthetic appeal. This composite approach allows manufacturers to choose from multiple material options including wood, wood products, and materials with wood appearance, balancing aesthetics with manufacturing considerations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If barrier sections are made slideable to adapt to different passageway sizes, then versatility is improved, but the risk of finger pinching during sliding operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to block large and small passagewaysVSAvoidfinger pinching hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the sliding mechanism by having panels align face-to-face during movement rather than overlapping. This dimensional reconfiguration eliminates the traditional overlap gap that creates finger pinching hazards, while preserving the slideability needed for versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of sliding mechanisms into a benefit by designing the panels so that their face-to-face alignment during sliding not only eliminates pinching risks but also creates an aesthetically pleasing appearance when the barrier is in use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS12497826B1Expandable barrier with matching panels and corner pet door

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 CARLSON PET PRODS

AI summary

A barrier for a home is disclosed. The barrier includes two portions that are quickly slideable relative to each other to take expanded and contracted forms. The barrier includes a metal frame and wood panels engaged in the metal frame. Each of the two portions includes at least one wood panel such that, when the barrier portions are slid to and away from each other, the wood panels slide to and away from each other. The barrier includes a corner pet door that opens in the expanded or contracted forms.