Flexible Door Leaf Design for Ligature Anchor Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients and inmates in psychiatric hospitals and prisons attempt to create ligatures using door systems by securing ropes or cables around anchor points, despite existing designs that aim to eliminate such points, and they also try to puncture or tear fixtures to create anchor points, which existing solutions fail to adequately prevent.
Innovation Solution
A door leaf made of flexible, high-tensile strength material, such as aramid fiber, that is resistant to puncture and tearing, combined with a hinge system that restricts rotation to less than 180 degrees, eliminating pinch points and anchor creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid door leaf is used, then it provides structural stability and strength, but it creates stable anchor points that can be used for ligatures
Solution Approach 1:
The door leaf transitions from a rigid static structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can deform under load. The flexible material allows the door to bend and deform when force is applied, preventing the formation of stable anchor points while maintaining structural integrity through material strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The door leaf is constructed from flexible material that can bend and deform, eliminating stable anchor points. The flexibility of the material allows it to conform to forces applied by ligatures, preventing the rigid anchor points that characterize traditional door designs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If common flexible plastic material is used for the door leaf, then it eliminates anchor points through flexibility, but it can be easily punctured and torn to create new anchor points
Solution Approach 1:
The door leaf uses composite or specially engineered flexible material that combines the flexibility needed to prevent anchor point formation with high tensile strength to resist puncture and tearing. This advanced material property combination addresses both requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties are changed to achieve both flexibility and high strength. The flexible material has specific tensile strength parameters that prevent puncture by common objects like pens while maintaining the flexibility to bend and eliminate anchor points.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the door leaf is made completely flexible, then it eliminates pinch points and anchor points, but it may compromise structural integrity and door functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The door leaf is constructed from flexible material that maintains structural integrity while eliminating rigid pinch points. The flexibility allows the door to deform safely under load, preventing the formation of dangerous pinch points between the door and frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The material parameters are optimized to achieve the right balance between flexibility and structural integrity. The flexible material has sufficient strength to maintain door functionality while being soft enough to eliminate rigid pinch points and anchor points.
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
Prevents the formation of ligatures by bending under force and resisting puncture/tearing, ensuring safety by eliminating stable anchor points and reducing self-harm risks.
Implementation Method 1
the door leaf is flexible (e.g. bendable) when force is applied thereto. the surface of the door leaf will bend and deform such that the anchoring force is small
Implementation Method 2
The material may have a high tensile strength, for example a tensile strength sufficient to prevent puncture by a pen and/or sufficient to prevent tearing by hand
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a door leaf formed of a flexible material, wherein the flexible material is resistant to puncture and resistant to tearing; and to a door system comprising the door leaf.