Sliding Door With Arc-Shaped Rail For Full Width Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional sliding doors can only open half the width of the doorway, which is inconvenient for people to go in and out, especially in spaces with limited space.

Innovation Solution

A sliding door design featuring a door body, supporting structure, guiding structure, lower sliding rail module, and upper sliding rail module, where the door moves along the lower sliding rail module while maintaining a vertical state, with the upper sliding rail module allowing the door to open fully without occupying doorway width.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional sliding door is used, then the door can be opened, but it can only open half the width of the doorway which is inconvenient for people to go in and out

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of entry and exitVSAvoidopenable width of door
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the traditional linear sliding motion into a two-dimensional motion trajectory. The door body moves along a curved path defined by the arc-shaped rail, combining vertical lifting and horizontal sliding movements. This dimensional change allows the door to open fully to the side without occupying doorway width, resolving the contradiction between openable width and space occupation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dynamic motion system where the door body transitions from static positioning to dynamic curved motion. The guiding structure with arc-shaped rails and rolling elements enables the door to follow a predetermined curved trajectory during opening and closing, allowing full-width opening while maintaining compact space utilization throughout the motion cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a sliding door opens fully to the side, then the space for entry and exit is increased, but the door occupies the doorway width when open

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace availability for entry and exitVSAvoidspace occupation at doorway
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the door's opening trajectory from the horizontal plane (traditional sliding) to a combination of vertical and horizontal planes. The arc-shaped rail guides the door along a curved path that lifts the door vertically while moving it horizontally to the side, eliminating doorway width occupation while maximizing space availability for entry and exit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the door opening motion into two independent components: vertical lifting motion and horizontal sliding motion. The guiding structure separates these motions through the arc-shaped rail design, allowing the door to perform both movements simultaneously along a curved trajectory, thus resolving the space occupation issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If a curved motion path is implemented, then the door can open fully without occupying doorway width, but the guiding structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopenable width of doorVSAvoidcomplexity of guiding structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary arc-shaped rail structure that mediates between the simple linear sliding mechanism and the desired curved motion path. This intermediate guiding component translates the straightforward linear motion of the sliding mechanism into the required curved trajectory, achieving full-width opening without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding structure is designed to self-guide the door body along the curved trajectory through the arc-shaped rail geometry. The rolling elements automatically follow the predetermined arc path without requiring external control mechanisms, reducing complexity while maintaining the curved motion capability for full-width opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables the sliding door to open fully, increasing the space available for entry and exit without occupying the doorway width, addressing the inconvenience of traditional sliding doors in small spaces.

Implementation Method 1

The guiding structure comprises a hanging wheel frame and a hanging wheel, wherein the hanging wheel frame is fixed on the first surface of the door body, and the hanging wheel is rotatably arranged on the hanging wheel frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulley: Pulley

Implementation Method 2

The lower sliding rail module comprises a first lower sliding rail and a second lower sliding rail, the first lower sliding rail is connected with the second lower sliding rail, and the first lower sliding rail is perpendicular to the second lower sliding rail

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP4215708A1Sliding door
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 3I WINDOW & DOOR LTD
  • EP4215708A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4215708A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4215708A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses a sliding door comprising a door body, a supporting structure, a guiding structure, a lower sliding rail module and an upper sliding rail module, the supporting structure and the guiding structure are respectively fixed with the door body; the lower sliding rail module comprises first and second lower sliding rails; the upper sliding rail module comprises first and second upper sliding rails; when the door body, the first upper sliding rail and the first lower sliding rail are on the same plane, the door body is in a closed state, and when the door body, the second upper sliding rail and the second lower sliding rail are on the same plane, the door body is in an open state. Thus, the present application enables the door body to not occupy the width of the doorway in the open state.