Museum display case with glass side walls and slidingly openable upper door
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing museum display cases with glass walls and openable doors suffer from visible mechanical mechanisms that detract from the aesthetic appeal and visibility of the displayed objects, particularly in table-top cases where the openable door is hinged or mounted on sliding guides, which are visually intrusive.
Innovation Solution
A museum display case design featuring slidingly openable glass doors with linear sliding guides applied to the inner and outer edges of the glass walls, concealed within the peripheral edges, and coupled to prevent vertical movement, ensuring minimal visibility and secure access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional hinged or sliding guides are used for the openable door, then the door can be opened and closed, but the mechanical mechanisms become visually intrusive and detract from the aesthetic appeal and visibility of displayed objects
Solution Approach 1:
The visible portions of the sliding guides are extracted and removed from the display case structure. The guides are repositioned and concealed within the peripheral edges of the glass walls, so that only the functional door opening capability remains visible, while the mechanical mechanisms are hidden from view.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral edges of the glass walls serve as intermediary elements that conceal the sliding guides. By applying the guides to the inner and outer edges of the glass walls, the mechanical components are medially hidden within the thickness of the glass edges, allowing the door to slide while maintaining aesthetic appearance.
2Shape
If the sliding guides are applied on the peripheral edges of the glass walls, then the opening mechanism becomes nearly invisible, but the guides must be precisely positioned and concealed within the glass thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding guides are nested within the peripheral edges of the glass walls. The guides are positioned inside the thickness of the glass edges, similar to nesting one object within another, which conceals them from external view while maintaining their functional positioning for door operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guides are applied locally at specific positions on the inner and outer edges of the glass walls. By concentrating the guide application to these specific peripheral locations, the design achieves both aesthetic concealment and functional effectiveness without requiring precision across the entire glass surface.
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 solution provides a nearly invisible opening mechanism that maintains object visibility while ensuring secure access, allowing the door to be opened almost completely without visible mechanical obstructions, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the display case.
Implementation Method 1
The linear sliding guides have dimensions corresponding to the thickness of the fixed glass wall to which they are applied... the fixed semi-guide comprises rolling rollers while the movable semi-guide comprises a contact track resting on the rolling rollers
Data Source
AI summary
A museum display case with a fixed case formed by fixed glass walls surmounted by an upper openable glass door. The openable glass door is slidingly openable with respect to the fixed case. The fixed glass walls and the openable glass door have, with respect to the display case, respective inner faces and outer faces connected by peripheral edges. The museum display case has two linear sliding guides between the openable glass door and the fixed case. The linear sliding guides are applied, on one side, on the inner face of the openable glass door near opposite peripheral edges of the openable glass door and, on the other side, on the peripheral edge of two opposite fixed glass walls. The linear sliding guides have dimensions corresponding to the thickness of the fixed glass wall to which they are applied.