Sliding Showcase Door Guides for Compression Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Showcases with sliding glass doors face challenges in achieving a strong seal without complicating the opening and closing operations, especially when the doors are large, as the compression sealing gaskets require manual adjustment at both the lower and upper sides, which can be difficult and hinder the sliding mechanism.

Innovation Solution

The showcase design incorporates movable upper and lower guides with actuation means that allow the upper guide to be actuated from the bottom, using a rack and mechanical transmission system, enabling the door to be opened and closed without accessing the upper area, ensuring a strong seal without hindering the sliding mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If compression sealing gaskets are used to ensure a strong seal, then the sealing performance is improved, but the opening and closing operations become complicated requiring manual adjustment at both lower and upper sides

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidopening and closing operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of actuating the upper guide from above (which would be the intuitive approach), the invention inverts the approach by actuating the upper guide from below through the lower guide. This allows a single access point at the lower side to control both guides, simplifying operation while maintaining strong sealing performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The lower guide is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a sliding guide for the door and as an actuation mechanism for the upper guide. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate actuation systems at the upper and lower sides, reducing operational complexity while ensuring proper sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Illumination intensity

If the openable door is made from large glass to ensure maximum visibility, then the visual impact is improved, but the weight creates difficulties in movement

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoiddoor weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The movable guides system is designed to counterbalance the weight of large glass doors. By allowing the guides themselves to move and adjust position, the system distributes and manages the heavy load, enabling smooth operation of large transparent doors without requiring excessive force or complex support structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the upper guide is fixed to ensure structural stability, then the structural integrity is improved, but the sealing gasket compression cannot be adjusted during door opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidgasket compression adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transforms the static upper guide into a dynamic component that can move relative to the fixed case. This movement is controlled through the lower guide actuation system, allowing the upper guide to adjust its position and maintain optimal gasket compression throughout the door opening and closing cycle, while still providing structural support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This design allows for easy operation of large sliding glass doors by acting on the lower guide, achieving a strong seal without complicating the opening and closing process, even when the door is large, by using a mechanical transmission system that synchronizes the movement of the upper guide, ensuring effective sealing and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

compression sealing gaskets, i.e. elastic gaskets that are compressed during the closing of the showcase, so that their elasticity exerts a thrust between a fixed case of the showcase and the openable door

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

upper actuation means, adapted to move the upper guide from the extracted position to the retracted position and vice versa... a rack and mechanical transmission system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS10136740B2Showcase with sliding and compression closure

Publication Date: 2018.11.27 GOPPION SPA

AI summary

A showcase includes a fixed case, an openable sliding door, closable on the fixed case, a compression sealing gasket, between the fixed case and the openable door, an upper guide and a lower guide mounted on the fixed case. The openable door is slidably mounted on the upper and lower guides, and both the upper guide and the lower guide are movable between respective extracted positions and respective retracted positions with respect to the fixed case. The showcase also includes lower actuation means, and upper actuation means. The upper actuation means are operatively connected to the lower actuation means and/or to the lower guide.