Foldable Pet Door with Friction Mount and Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pet doors often require modifications to existing doors, can be expensive, and may not accommodate pets with mobility issues, while also potentially leaking cold air or allowing inclement weather in.
Innovation Solution
A portable, foldable pet door with hingedly connected panels and a hook-and-loop connector system that can be securely attached to a door jamb, featuring a flexible pet flap and insulative materials to maintain temperature and accommodate pets with mobility issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional pet door is installed by cutting a hole in an existing door, then pets can enter and exit freely, but the door structure is permanently altered and installation becomes messy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The pet door is divided into multiple detachable panels (header panel, side panels, footer panel) that can be assembled and disassembled without permanent modification to the door. The connector elements enable these segments to be joined together temporarily, allowing installation and removal without cutting or permanent attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
Connector elements serve as intermediaries between the pet door panels and the existing door structure. These connectors attach to the door surface without permanent modification, providing a mounting interface that allows the pet door to be secured temporarily and removed later without damage or mess.
2Strength
If a traditional pet door with a full frame is installed, then structural integrity is maintained, but pets with mobility issues cannot raise their legs over the frame edges
Solution Approach 1:
The pet door panels are made flexible rather than rigid, allowing them to bend and flex as pets pass through. The header panel can flex downward and side panels can move to accommodate pets with limited mobility, eliminating the need for pets to lift their legs over rigid frame edges while maintaining structural integrity when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The panels are constructed from flexible materials that can deform to accommodate pets of various sizes and mobility levels. This flexibility allows the panels to conform to the pet's body shape and movement patterns, providing access for pets that cannot clear rigid frames.
3Ease of operation
If the portable pet door uses hingedly connected panels for portability, then storage and transport become easier, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pet door is segmented into multiple panels connected by hinges, allowing it to be folded into a compact configuration for storage and transport. When installed, the panels form a stable structure supported by the door surface and connector elements, providing both portability and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge connections combine flexibility for folding with structural stability when assembled. The hinges allow panels to move relative to each other during folding but maintain rigid connections when the door is installed and under normal use conditions, providing both portability and stability.
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 portable pet door allows pets to enter and exit freely without altering the existing door structure, reduces interruptions for owners, and provides effective insulation and accessibility for pets with mobility issues.
Implementation Method 1
A connector is placed on a top portion of the upper panel, wherein the connector is configured to removably secure the portable pet door to a door jamb or other attachment surface
Implementation Method 2
featuring a flexible pet flap and insulative materials to maintain temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A portable pet door is provided. The portable pet door includes a plurality of panels (101) connected in such a manner that allows the pet door to be folded for portability when not in use. The portable pet door may be installed in a sliding door jamb and configured to be held in place via friction from the sliding door (110) and an adjacent door jamb. The portable pet door has a removable flap (102) located at the bottom of the portable pet door. The portable pet door may have a connector (401) located on a top portion of a top panel of the plurality of panels that allows the pet door to be removably secured to a door jamb.