Laboratory cabinet

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laboratory cabinets require users to open the outer door and then the inner door separately, which can be cumbersome and may disturb the controlled climatic conditions inside, and there is a need to simplify the opening of the inner door while maintaining user-friendliness and security.

Innovation Solution

The laboratory cabinet features adjustable means, such as a pivotable bolt and magnetic coupling, allowing the inner door to be opened independently or together with the outer door, with options to set whether the inner door opens with the outer door, and a secure mechanism to prevent unauthorized changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the inner door is always opened together with the outer door, then the opening process is simple, but the climatic conditions in the interior are disturbed when the outer door is opened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening process simplicityVSAvoidclimatic condition disturbance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The door system is segmented into an outer door and an inner door that can operate independently. The inner door can be opened separately from the outer door, allowing users to access items without fully opening the outer door, thus minimizing climatic disturbance while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling between the inner door and outer door is made dynamic rather than fixed. The inner door can be configured to either couple with or decouple from the outer door operation, allowing the system to adapt between two modes: coupled mode for simple operation and uncoupled mode for climate protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the inner door can be opened independently of the outer door, then climatic conditions are protected, but the opening process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclimatic condition protectionVSAvoiddoor operation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inner door lock serves multiple functions: it locks the inner door when closed, and it also controls the coupling between the inner and outer doors. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby limiting complexity while enabling independent operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling mechanism is merged with the existing door lock structure. The inner door lock's closing action simultaneously performs two functions: securing the inner door and creating the coupling with the outer door, thus avoiding additional complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the means for adjusting door coupling are accessible, then user-friendliness is improved, but unauthorized or unintentional changing of settings is possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment accessibilityVSAvoidsetting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustability feature is localized to a specific position (when the outer door is open) rather than being universally accessible. The means for adjusting the coupling are only accessible in the local condition when the outer door is open, providing ease of operation when needed while preventing unauthorized changes during normal closed-door operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This design enhances user-friendliness by simplifying the opening process of the inner door while maintaining control over climatic conditions and preventing unauthorized changes, ensuring secure and efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

the driver is designed as a permanent magnet arranged on one of the outer and inner doors, which interacts with the other of the outer and inner doors or with a magnetic element arranged on the other of the outer and inner doors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3396091B1Laboratory cabinet
Publication Date: 2022.08.17 BINDER GMBH
  • EP3396091B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3396091B1 patent drawingFigure 4~8
  • EP3396091B1 patent drawingFigure 9~11

AI summary

The invention relates to a laboratory cabinet (10), for example a cold cabinet, heating cabinet, drying cabinet or incubator, with a housing (12) which has at least one outer door (14) and has at least one interior space which can be closed by an inner door (18), the Laboratory cabinet (10) has adjustable means (20) and depending on the position of the means (20) the inner door (18) can be opened together with the outer door (14) or independently of the outer door (14), the means (20) are inaccessible when the outer door (14) is closed.