Removable Pet Door Panel With Foldable Hatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pet doors are difficult to install and remove without damaging exterior doors or walls, and their removal often requires costly repairs to the building's climate-control system.
Innovation Solution
An elongated, rectangular panel is hingedly attached to an exterior door, featuring a foldable design with a movable hatch that allows pets to pass through, and a triangular flap to secure the panel against the door frame, enabling easy installation and removal without damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional pet door is installed within an opening created on an exterior door or wall, then the pet can freely pass through, but the exterior door or wall is damaged and costly repairs are required upon removal
Solution Approach 1:
The pet door is divided into separate components: a removable panel that attaches to the door surface without permanent modification. This segmentation allows the pet door to be easily removed and stored, eliminating the need for costly repairs to the exterior door or wall while still providing functional pet access.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable panel serves as an intermediary element between the pet and the exterior door. This panel can be attached and detached as needed, providing pet access without creating permanent openings in the door or wall, thus avoiding damage and repair requirements.
2Reliability
If a conventional pet door is installed permanently, then climate control integrity is maintained, but the pet door becomes a useless eyesore and strains the climate-control system when the owner relocates or the pet dies
Solution Approach 1:
The pet door system transitions from a static permanent installation to a dynamic removable configuration. The panel can be attached when needed and removed when the owner relocates or the pet dies, allowing the system to adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining climate control integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of leaving a permanent opening that becomes a useless eyesore, the removable panel can be discarded from the door surface and recovered for storage or reuse. This eliminates the strain on the climate-control system and allows for clean relocation without damage.
3Ease of operation
If an opening is created on an exterior door or wall for a pet door, then pet access is enabled, but the opening significantly strains the building's climate-control system
Solution Approach 1:
The removable panel acts as a flexible barrier that can be attached to the door surface to create pet access. When not in use, the panel is removed and stored, allowing the door to remain fully closed and intact, thus preventing energy loss and maintaining climate control integrity while still enabling pet access when needed.
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 allows for seamless installation and removal of the pet door without damaging the exterior door or wall, maintaining climate control integrity and providing a secure barrier for pet access while preventing debris and moisture intrusion.
Implementation Method 1
A first side edge includes multiple sets of spaced hinge barrels (2) that align with mating hinge barrels (3) on the free, pivotal side edge of the exterior door.
Implementation Method 2
A ball-detent locking pin (4) is inserted into the aligned mating barrels to hingedly secure the panel to the exterior door.
Data Source
AI summary
A pet door includes an elongated, rectangular panel having a first side edge hingedly attached to the free, pivotal side edge of an exterior door. The panel is formed of an upper section that is foldable onto a lower section to allow the device to be compactly transported or stored. The lower section includes an opening having a movable hatch positioned therein that allows a pet to freely pass through the panel. The upper section of the panel includes a triangular flap hingedly attached to a top edge that is securable to the upper edge of the exterior door. Accordingly, the exterior door is partially opened and the panel is pivoted against the door frame to block the space formed therebetween. The flap is secured to the top edge of the door to overlay the triangular space formed between the exterior door and frame header. Therefore, the panel forms a secure barrier between the open door and the exterior while allowing a pet to freely enter and exit the building.