Folding Door Slider Hook Mechanism for Clear Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stowable folding door devices reduce stowing space and aesthetics due to the working plate on the roller traveling element, and lack a mechanism to release the lock using the rear face of the foldable door.
Innovation Solution
A stowable folding door device with a hook rotatably supported by a slider and a lever that rotates about a second rotation shaft, allowing the lock to be released by contacting the rear face of the foldable door, enabling the slider to move in the depth direction without obstructing the door's closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a working plate is provided on the roller traveling element to release the lock, then the lock can be released before complete folding, but the stowing space is reduced and the appearance becomes bad
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the lock release function from the working plate concept and implements it through the rear face of the foldable door directly interacting with the hook. This eliminates the need for a separate working plate component that would occupy stowing space, while still achieving timely lock release before complete folding.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear face of the foldable door serves multiple functions: it acts as the locking engagement surface during closed state and simultaneously serves as the lock release actuator when the door is folded. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components like working plates, optimizing both space and operation.
2Reliability
If the lock mechanism uses a hook that engages with the article of furniture, then the slider is prevented from moving before complete folding, but the hook may obstruct the door's movement route during closure
Solution Approach 1:
The hook is designed with rotational capability about a first rotation shaft, allowing it to dynamically change its position and orientation. During the closing phase, the hook can rotate to avoid obstructing the door's movement route, while still maintaining reliable engagement with the article of furniture when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook's rotation about the first rotation shaft introduces an additional degree of freedom, allowing the locking mechanism to operate in multiple spatial dimensions. This enables the hook to engage reliably with the article of furniture while simultaneously avoiding interference with the door's primary movement path during closure.
3Ease of operation
If the lever rotates about the first rotation shaft together with the hook, then the lock is released, but the lever may interfere with the door's moving route
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed to rotate about a second rotation shaft that is different from the first rotation shaft of the hook. This separate rotation axis allows the lever to perform its lock release function while avoiding interference with the door's movement route, as the lever's rotation occurs in a different spatial plane or direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever and hook are designed with asymmetric rotation characteristics - the hook rotates about the first rotation shaft while the lever rotates about the second rotation shaft. This asymmetric design ensures that the lever's movement path does not interfere with the door's primary movement route, while still achieving effective lock release.
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
Enables the lock to be released using the rear face of the foldable door, allowing for efficient stowing without obstructing the door's closure path, thus improving space utilization and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a hook (54) rotatably supported by the slider (14) such that the hook (54) can rotate about a first rotation shaft (53)
Implementation Method 2
a lever (56) supported by the hook (54) such that the lever (56) can rotate about a second rotation shaft (55)
Data Source
AI summary
A stowable folding door device includes a slider to move the folded door in a depth direction of an article of furniture, a hook supported by the slider so as to rotate about a first rotation shaft and to engage with an engaging section provided on the article of furniture, and a lever supported by the hook to rotate about a second rotation shaft. Upon folding up the foldable door, the lever rotates in a first direction about the first rotation shaft together with the hook while contacting the rear surface of the foldable door, and the engagement between the hook and the engaging section is released. When the foldable door closes an opening of the article of furniture, the lever rotates relative to the hook in the direction opposite the first direction about the second rotation shaft while contacting the rear surface of the foldable door.