Offset Panel Door Tracks for Compact Stacking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side opening panel door systems require a deeper door receiving space to accommodate multiple panels, and the distance between the wall and the panel surface can be substantial due to deflection concerns, limiting space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A panel door system with at least two support tracks offset both horizontally and vertically, allowing panels to stack closely when open, reducing the width and depth of the door receiving space, and using rollers and a bottom guide groove for smooth movement and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple panels are used to reduce the width of door receiving space, then the width of door receiving space is reduced, but the depth of door receiving space must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by mounting support tracks both horizontally and vertically to create a three-dimensional stacking arrangement of panels. Instead of arranging panels in a single horizontal row that increases depth, the panels are distributed across multiple dimensions (horizontal and vertical offsets), allowing them to stack more compactly in both width and depth directions. This resolves the contradiction by utilizing spatial distribution in multiple dimensions rather than concentrating all panels in one dimension.
2Strength
If panel thickness is increased to resist deflection from lateral loads, then structural integrity is improved, but the distance between wall/entrance plane and panel surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the door system into multiple separate panels, each supported by its own dedicated support track. This segmentation allows each panel to be thinner since it only needs to support its own weight and resist deflection independently, rather than one thick panel supporting the entire door assembly. The multiple thin panels collectively provide the required structural integrity while maintaining a compact overall profile.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple panels are used to reduce door receiving space width, then space efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs identical, standardized support tracks and hanging mechanisms for each panel, making each component universal and multi-functional. The same track design and hanging mechanism are repeated across all panels, allowing for modular assembly and simplifying manufacturing, maintenance, and operation. This universality reduces the effective complexity despite having multiple components, as each component serves the same function and can be interchanged.
Data Source
AI summary
A panel door system has at least two support tracks and at least two panels hanging from the at least two support tracks. The at least two support tracks are mounted to a support structure such that each support track is offset from a previous support track both horizontally and vertically. The least two panels are hung using hanging mechanism such that each panel is hung on a different support track. The at least two panels create a door. The at least two panels are movable along the at least two support tracks in a first direction to open the door and in a second direction to close the door. The at least two panels stack horizontally with each other when the door is in the open position.