Movable Door Bottom Seal for Water Drainage and Aesthetics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional door bottom systems face challenges in maintaining a watertight seal due to degradation from foot-traffic and infiltration of water and debris between the door sweep and threshold rail, leading to aesthetic and functional issues.
Innovation Solution
A door bottom system featuring a threshold assembly with a movable seal that adjusts between initial and sealed positions, ensuring fluid is directed into a channel when the door is closed, and hidden when open, preventing interior infiltration and enhancing aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rail is biased upward toward the door panel to create a water-tight seal, then the sealing performance is improved, but the rail degrades from repeated foot-traffic and engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is made movable along the axis between initial and sealed positions, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the door panel position. When the door is closed, the seal moves to the sealed position to prevent fluid infiltration; when open, it returns to the initial position. This dynamic movement reduces wear on stationary components while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is divided into two distinct components: the door sweep and the movable seal. The door sweep handles the primary sealing contact with the door panel, while the movable seal provides secondary sealing and directs fluid into the channel. This segmentation distributes wear and stress across multiple components, extending the service life of each individual part.
2Ease of manufacture
If the rail is set to a predetermined height to seal against the door panel, then installation is simplified, but the seal cannot adapt to variations in door panel position
Solution Approach 1:
The movable seal automatically adjusts its position along the axis in response to door panel movement. When the door closes, the seal is pushed into the sealed position; when the door opens, the seal returns to the initial position. This self-adjusting mechanism eliminates the need for manual height adjustment during installation while ensuring optimal sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal transitions from a static predetermined height to a dynamic position that automatically adapts to door panel variations. The seal moves along the axis between initial and sealed positions, providing continuous adaptation to different door panel positions without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
3Reliability
If water and debris infiltrate between the door sweep and rail, then the sealing function is compromised, but traditional systems lack a mechanism to redirect the fluid
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to completely prevent fluid infiltration, the system channels the infiltrating fluid into a designated drainage path. The movable seal directs water and debris into the channel formed by the threshold assembly, converting the harmful infiltration into a controlled drainage flow that exits at the exterior side, preventing damage to the interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable seal acts as an intermediary element between the door sweep and the threshold assembly. It manages the fluid that infiltrates between these components by directing it into the channel, serving as a mediator that controls the flow path of harmful fluids and prevents them from reaching the interior space.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the channel is visible when the door is open, then the aesthetic appearance is degraded, but the channel is needed to collect and drain fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The seal dynamically changes its position to cover or uncover the channel based on door position. When the door is open, the seal is in the initial position covering the channel, maintaining aesthetic appearance. When the door is closed, the seal moves to the sealed position, uncovering the channel to allow fluid collection and drainage. This dynamic positioning resolves the conflict between aesthetics and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal's movement along the axis provides an additional dimension of control over channel visibility. By positioning the seal at different locations along the axis, the system can switch between aesthetic mode (channel covered) and drainage mode (channel uncovered), allowing both functions to be achieved in different operational states.
Data Source
AI summary
A door bottom system is used with an entryway system having a door panel movable between open and closed positions. The door bottom system includes a door sweep movable with the door panel between first and second positions corresponding with the open and closed positions, respectively. The door bottom system includes a threshold assembly including a sill that defines a channel adapted for accepting a fluid. The threshold assembly includes a seal extending downwardly toward the sill to a distal end and movable between initial and sealed positions. The door sweep selectively engages and moves the seal from the initial position in the first position to the sealed position in the second position. The seal extends over and covers the channel in the initial position. The seal at least partially uncovers the channel in the sealed position such that the distal end of the seal is positioned above the channel.