Retractable Floor Seal Segmented Expanding Element for Width Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing retractable floor seals for doors cannot be easily shortened, limiting their adaptability to non-standard door widths and requiring multiple seals of different lengths to be manufactured and stocked, which increases inventory needs.

Innovation Solution

The seal design incorporates a first expanding element with a longer first section and a shorter second section, allowing the seal to be shortened without compromising its functionality, with all sections having a uniform profile to maintain the seal's integrity and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the expanding element is designed with a large diameter to match the maximum width of the seal housing, then the fastening function is ensured, but the seal cannot be easily shortened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening functionVSAvoidshortening capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The expanding element is divided into two distinct sections: a first section with a larger diameter that ensures reliable fastening in the groove, and a second section with a smaller diameter that allows the seal to be shortened. This segmentation enables the seal to maintain its fastening function while becoming adaptable to different door widths through shortening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the seal is designed to be shortened to adapt to non-standard door widths, then adaptability is improved, but the fastening reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to door widthsVSAvoidfastening reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the expanding element into a first section (larger diameter) and a second section (smaller diameter), the invention ensures that the critical fastening function is maintained in the first section even when the seal is shortened through the second section. This allows adaptability without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple seals of different lengths are manufactured and stocked to cover various door widths, then adaptability is improved, but inventory complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of door widthsVSAvoidinventory management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is designed with a universal expanding element that can accommodate multiple door widths through the shortening mechanism. A single seal design can be adapted to fit various door widths by utilizing the second section of the expanding element, eliminating the need to manufacture and stock multiple specialized seals for different door sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2143868B1Quickly mountable seal which can be reduced in size, in particular automatically retractable floor-seal

Publication Date: 2013.09.11 ATHMER

Figure 1.1~1.2
Figure 1.1~2.3b
Figure 3~6

AI summary

The seal i.e. automatically retractable floor-seal (1), has an expansion element (3) including a section projecting into a position of a pressing structure at an end of a sealing housing (2). The section is arranged in another position of the pressing structure within the sealing housing. Another section of the expansion element is connected with a former section, for working together with the pressing structure, where the former section is longer than the latter section. A sealant is provided in the sealing housing.