Removable Threshold Dam for Water and Air Ingress Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Residential and commercial buildings are vulnerable to air and water ingress during severe weather conditions, particularly through entrance doors, necessitating effective temporary control barriers that can be quickly erected and disassembled.

Innovation Solution

A door system featuring a removable dam mounted to the threshold, combined with a seal assembly and mechanical fasteners, creates a sealed interface to prevent air and water ingress, and includes a storage compartment for the dam when not in use, along with a seal assembly for the clearance gap between doors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a permanent seal is installed at the threshold to prevent water and air ingress, then protection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is divided into multiple segments: a threshold seal integrated into the building structure, and a removable dam that can be installed across the threshold when protection is needed. This segmentation allows the building to maintain normal access while having the option to seal the entrance during severe weather, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dam is designed to be removable and reconfigurable, transforming the sealing system from a static permanent installation to a dynamic temporary barrier. The dam can be quickly deployed across the threshold and removed when not needed, providing reliable protection only when necessary, thus reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining high reliability during critical events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a removable dam is installed at the threshold to prevent water and air ingress, then ease of operation is improved, but sealing effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsealing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The dam incorporates nested sealing mechanisms where a face seal on the upstream side and a valley seal on the downstream side work together in layers. The projection on the dam fits into a valley in the threshold, creating multiple nested sealing interfaces that enhance sealing effectiveness while maintaining ease of operation through the simple removable design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The dam utilizes flexible seal elements including a face seal and valley seal that can conform to the threshold geometry and accommodate minor variations in installation. These flexible sealing components ensure effective sealing despite the removable nature of the dam, maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If mechanical fasteners are used to secure the dam to the threshold, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The threshold is pre-equipped with receiving features such as valleys and threaded apertures that guide and secure the dam during installation. The mechanical fasteners are designed to engage with these pre-prepared features, making the sealing effective while keeping installation and removal straightforward. The preliminary preparation of the threshold reduces the operational complexity of securing the dam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If a dam is permanently fixed at the threshold to prevent water and air ingress, then protection reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The dam system transforms a static permanent sealing approach into a dynamic temporary barrier that can be deployed and removed as needed. This allows the building entrance to adapt between normal operational mode (dam removed) and protection mode (dam installed), providing both high reliability during severe weather and high adaptability for everyday use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The dam serves multiple functions: it acts as a water barrier, an air barrier, and a configurable temporary seal that can be installed only when protection is needed. The threshold design with integrated valleys and fastening features provides a universal mounting system that accommodates the removable dam while maintaining the opening's normal functionality, achieving both reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12188298B2Water resistive entrance doors for buildings

Publication Date: 2025.01.07 KAWNEER

AI summary

A door system includes a doorframe having opposing vertical jambs, a door pivotably coupled to the doorframe, a threshold extending between the opposing vertical jambs and providing an upper surface that defines a valley, and a dam removably mountable to the threshold at the valley. A valley seal interposes the dam and the threshold at the valley when the dam is mounted to the threshold and thereby generates a sealed interface between the dam and the threshold.