Magnetic Partition Door Closing Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bathroom partition doors with traditional closing mechanisms often slam against the stile when closing, causing noise, vibration, and repeated opening and closing cycles due to excessive torque, which is problematic under the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for maintaining the door closed.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating magnets on the partition door and stile, with one magnet pair at each end, to provide a magnetic force that attracts and retains the door in the closed position, reducing the need for high torque from traditional closing mechanisms and minimizing slamming and vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional closing mechanism with high torque is used to keep the door closed under ADA requirements, then the door remains reliably closed, but the door slams against the stile causing noise and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor closed position stabilityVSAvoidnoise and vibration from slamming

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a damping element between the door and stile that absorbs impact energy before the door can slam. The damping element is positioned in advance to cushion the door's movement, preventing the harmful slamming effect while maintaining the door's closed position stability required by ADA standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary damping element that mediates between the door and stile. This intermediary component absorbs and dissipates the impact energy, preventing direct contact and slamming between the door and stile, thereby reducing noise and vibration while maintaining reliable door closure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a high torque closing mechanism is used to prevent the door from re-opening after slamming, then the door remains closed, but the mechanism causes repeated opening and closing cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor closed position maintenanceVSAvoiddoor operation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The damping element provides beforehand cushioning that prevents the door from rebounding and re-opening after closing. By absorbing the impact energy before it can cause the door to rebound, the damping element eliminates the repeated opening and closing cycles, improving operational stability while maintaining reliable door closure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful impact energy from door closure into beneficial damping effect. The damping element transforms the kinetic energy that would cause rebounding and repeated cycles into heat energy through controlled deformation, thereby preventing the harmful repeated opening and closing while maintaining door closure reliability.

Inventive Principle:

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

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the closing mechanism torque is reduced to minimize slamming, then noise and vibration decrease, but the door may not remain reliably closed under ADA requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslamming noise and vibrationVSAvoiddoor closed position maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The damping element acts as an intermediary that allows the closing mechanism to operate with reduced torque while still maintaining reliable door closure. The damping element compensates for the reduced mechanical force by providing friction-based resistance that keeps the door closed, thereby reducing slamming noise and vibration without compromising ADA compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes part of the mechanical closing force with a friction-based damping mechanism. Instead of relying entirely on high-torque mechanical components, the damping element provides a friction force that maintains door closure, allowing the mechanical closing mechanism to operate at lower torque levels and reduce harmful slamming effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 magnetic attraction allows the door to close smoothly and remain closed with minimal vibration, reducing the force required from traditional closing mechanisms and addressing the issue of excessive noise and vibration, while meeting the torque requirements for keeping the door closed as per the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Implementation Method 1

A first magnet is at the partition door proximate the stile, and a second magnet is at the stile proximate the door

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS9879461B2Partition and closing system for partition

Publication Date: 2018.01.30 BOBRICK WASHROOM EQUIPMENT INC

AI summary

A partition door system includes a partition door, a stile, and a closing mechanism coupling the partition door to the stile, such that the closing mechanism provides a force for closing the door relative to the stile. A first magnet is at the partition door proximate the stile, and a second magnet is at the stile proximate the door. A partition door including a magnet, a stile including a magnet and a method of operating the same are also provided.