Sliding Door Guide Rail Recess Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding door and folding sliding door fittings weaken the guide rail at the stop point, leading to instability and potential damage when forces are dissipated from the stop to the rail.

Innovation Solution

A fitting with a guide rail featuring a cutout and a cover that engages form-fittingly within the recess, distributing forces and reinforcing the rail, while also preventing dirt entry and providing a stable support mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a recess is provided in the guide rail to mount the stop, then the stop can be easily installed and positioned, but the guide rail is weakened at the recess location, reducing its structural strength and stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A cover element is introduced as an intermediary component between the stop and the guide rail. The cover engages in the recess and provides a mounting surface for the stop, while the stop forces are transferred to the cover rather than directly to the weakened rail area. This mediator protects the structurally compromised region while enabling easy installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting system is divided into separate functional components: the guide rail with recess, the cover element that engages the recess, and the stop that mounts to the cover. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the rail maintains its structural integrity while the cover and stop provide the mounting function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a large recess is cut into the guide rail to accommodate the stop, then the stop can be securely mounted, but the material stress at the contact point increases, potentially causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidmaterial stress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The cover acts as a stress-distributing intermediary. Instead of concentrating forces at a single contact point between the stop and the weakened rail area, the cover spreads the loads across its engagement surface within the recess, reducing peak stresses and preventing material failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the recess is left open to allow access for the self-closing mechanism driver, then the mechanism can operate, but dirt can enter behind the guide rail through the recess

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism accessibilityVSAvoiddirt contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover element acts as a protective shell that encloses the recess area. It maintains the opening necessary for driver access while preventing dirt and contaminants from entering the space behind the guide rail, thus protecting the mechanism from contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3523493B1Fitting for a sliding or sliding and folding door

Publication Date: 2020.12.16 HETTICH HEINZE GMBH & CO KG

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5

AI summary

A fitting for a sliding door or sliding folding door comprises a guide rail (4) along which at least one sliding element that is guided on tracks (5) of the guide rail (4) can move. Said guide rail (4) has at least one recess (6) in which a stopper (10, 17, 17', 30) for a sliding element is fastened, said stopper (10, 17, 17', 30) being fastened to a cover (8, 20) that engages at least partly the recess (6). In this way, the stopper can be used to reinforce the guide rail (4).