Retractable Floor Anchor for Pivoting Wall Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing movable wall panel systems require complex and time-consuming installation of door locks and rotatable bush assemblies in floor cavities, and exposed door closer assemblies are unsightly and large.
Innovation Solution
A retractable floor anchor system with a spindle and linear actuator that allows for vertical translation between retracted and extended positions, integrated with a door closer assembly, eliminating the need for floor cavity installation and providing a self-closing pivoting wall panel system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional door locks and rotatable bush assemblies are installed in floor cavities, then the pivoting wall panel can be securely anchored, but the installation becomes complex and time-consuming requiring pre-planned floor cavities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the door closer assembly from the floor cavity installation requirement and integrates it into the wall panel assembly itself. The door closer is mounted on the wall panel rather than being embedded in the floor, eliminating the need for pre-planned floor cavities and complex installation procedures while maintaining secure anchoring capability through a simplified base plate that attaches to the panel's lower rail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the door closer assembly, spindle, and base plate into an integrated unit that is mounted on the wall panel assembly. This combination eliminates the need for separate floor cavity installation and integrates multiple functions (anchoring, pivoting, and door closing) into a single cohesive system that simplifies installation while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If door closer assemblies are exposed as floor mounted or header assemblies, then the pivoting function is achieved, but the appearance becomes unsightly and the assemblies are large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the door closer assembly within the wall panel structure itself, specifically mounting it on the lower rail of the panel. This integration conceals the mechanical components within the panel's framework, giving a clean, minimalistic appearance while preserving the full pivoting function. The spindle and base plate are positioned to engage with the floor without exposing the complex door closer mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the door closer assembly from traditional floor-mounted or header-mounted configurations to a wall panel-mounted configuration. This dimensional change allows the mechanism to be concealed within the vertical profile of the panel rather than being exposed at the floor level or overhead, achieving both aesthetic simplicity and functional effectiveness.
3Reliability
If floor cavities are created for door lock installation, then secure anchoring is achieved, but the installation process becomes time-consuming and difficult especially in concrete floors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the anchoring function from the floor cavity installation process and relocates it to a surface-mounted base plate that attaches to the wall panel's lower rail. This eliminates the need to cut and install floor cavities, especially in concrete floors, while maintaining secure anchoring through a simplified attachment mechanism that can be installed without specialized tools or pre-planned openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates the door closer assembly and base plate as pre-integrated components of the wall panel assembly during manufacturing. This preliminary integration ensures that all anchoring and pivoting mechanisms are already in place and properly positioned before installation, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site modifications to floor structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A wall panel system including a retractable floor anchor for converting a wall panel assembly between a sliding configuration and a pivoting configuration. The wall panel system includes a sliding wall panel assembly and a pivoting wall panel assembly that may be configured to slide or pivot. A retractable floor anchor configured to be included in the pivoting wall panel assembly includes retractable spindle that is coupled to a base member by a linear actuator. The spindle is rotatably coupled to a door closer included in the retractable floor anchor.