Queue Management Gate with Movable Barrier
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional queue management systems often require individuals to walk excessively long distances due to the zig-zag pattern of lanes, especially when few people are present, which can be frustrating and time-consuming for those carrying items or with mobility issues, and lack effective mechanisms to prevent unauthorized queue-jumping.
Innovation Solution
A queue management gate with a movable, rigid barrier that can be retro-fitted to existing stanchion systems, allowing users to bypass lanes by turning 90 degrees and passing through the gate, while being biased to open only in one direction to prevent unauthorized access and include locking mechanisms for authorized queue-jumping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a zig-zag pattern of adjacent lanes is used to manage queues, then the number of people that can form a queue in less space is improved, but the length of walk required to reach the destination increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The queue management system is segmented into multiple adjacent lanes formed by stanchions and flexible tapes. The queue is divided into discrete segments (lanes) that can be independently managed, allowing people to be distributed across multiple parallel paths rather than a single long winding queue.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of arranging lanes in a sequential zig-zag pattern that requires backtracking, the system introduces lateral connectivity between lanes at the same hierarchical level. This adds a dimensional shortcut, allowing queue jumpers to move laterally from one lane to another without traversing the entire zig-zag path, effectively transforming a 1D sequential path into a 2D grid with multiple routes.
2Device complexity
If flexible tapes are used to form lanes between stanchions, then the system is simple and portable, but there is no effective mechanism to prevent unauthorized queue-jumping
Solution Approach 1:
The gate barrier is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically transition between open and closed states. This dynamic characteristic enables the system to adapt to different operational modes: normally closed to prevent queue jumping, and selectively open to allow authorized queue jumpers or staff to pass through, thus maintaining both security and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameter of the gate barrier from static to variable. By controlling the position parameter (open/closed) of the barrier, the system can adjust its level of restriction. Additionally, the attachment mechanism allows the gate to be easily installed or removed, changing the structural configuration parameter of the overall queue management system.
3Length of moving object
If a movable barrier gate is installed to allow direct access between lanes, then the walking distance is reduced, but the risk of unauthorized queue-jumping increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gate barrier is positioned and configured to proactively prevent unauthorized queue jumping before it can occur. By placing a physical barrier at the critical transition point between lanes, the system anticipates and blocks potential rule violations. The barrier's default closed state serves as a preemptive measure against harmful behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate barrier is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically transition between open and closed states. This dynamic characteristic enables the system to adapt to different operational modes: normally closed to prevent queue jumping, and selectively open to allow authorized queue jumpers or staff to pass through, thus maintaining both security and flexibility.
4Reliability
If the gate is biased to block the gap between lanes, then unauthorized queue-jumping is prevented, but authorized individuals cannot easily access the front of the queue
Solution Approach 1:
The gate barrier is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically transition between open and closed states. This dynamic characteristic enables the system to adapt to different operational modes: normally closed to prevent queue jumping, and selectively open to allow authorized queue jumpers or staff to pass through, thus maintaining both security and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate system is designed to be easily operated by individuals themselves without requiring external assistance. The manual operation mechanism allows any authorized person to independently open the gate when needed, and the automatic closing function ensures the barrier returns to its protective position without intervention. This self-service capability simplifies operation while maintaining security.
Data Source
AI summary
Queue management systems allow a long queue/line of people to be held in a relatively small area. However, if there is no queue/line the system may frustrate users. The invention provides in one aspect a queue management gate 110 comprising an attachment device 150 for attaching the queue management gate to a stanchion 30 of the type used in queue management systems which include flexible tapes extending between stanchions to form lanes, the gate further comprising a relatively rigid movable barrier 60, movable in a substantially horizontal plane, the gate for allowing access between adjacent lanes formed by the queue management system such that users may avoid walking through the empty lanes formed by the queue management system.