Sliding Door Guide Structure for Non-Invasive Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sliding door structures require invasive and expensive installations, are difficult to transport, store, and adapt to different requirements, and are not economically competitive.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door structure with an in-wall frame and a guiding element that can be assembled without drilling, featuring a self-centering upper guide and a guiding element with interlocking recesses for easy installation and removal, and a kit with contoured elements for simplified transport and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the guiding element is fixed to the ground by drilling, then the sliding door structure is stable and reliable, but the installation becomes invasive and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding element is divided into a fixed portion (with lateral projections engaging the in-wall frame) and a movable portion (with the vertical protrusion). This segmentation allows the guiding element to be installed without drilling, as the fixed portion anchors to the frame while the movable portion provides the guiding function, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding element incorporates a movable portion that can slide or adjust within the fixed portion, allowing the structure to adapt during installation without requiring invasive drilling. The movable portion with vertical protrusion engages the sliding slot dynamically, providing stability while enabling non-invasive installation through the in-wall frame's internal cavity.
2Reliability
If the in-wall frame is built into a brick wall, then the sliding door structure is stable and secure, but the installation requires invasive interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The in-wall frame is segmented into modular components (first and second main vertical walls, rear post, front post) that can be assembled around the architectural opening without requiring the entire structure to be built into the wall. The guiding element's segmented design complements this by providing anchoring points on the frame itself rather than requiring wall drilling.
Solution Approach 2:
The in-wall frame acts as an intermediary structure between the wall and the sliding door assembly. Instead of directly fixing the guiding element to the wall, the frame provides mounting surfaces and structural support, mediating the connection and eliminating the need for invasive wall drilling while maintaining security and stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the guiding element has fixed dimensions, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but it lacks versatility for different requirements and measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding element incorporates a movable portion that can adjust its position or configuration within the fixed portion, enabling the same component to adapt to different door measurements and requirements while maintaining a simple fixed-dimensional base structure for easy manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding element's design with a fixed portion and movable portion creates a universal component that can serve multiple functions and adapt to various door configurations. The lateral projections engage with the in-wall frame in a standardized manner while the movable portion accommodates different vertical positions, providing versatility without complicating the basic manufacturing process.
4Reliability
If the sliding door structure uses conventional fixed components, then the structure is rigid and stable, but it is difficult to transport, store, and assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The in-wall frame and guiding element are both segmented into multiple components that can be disassembled for compact transport and storage, then reassembled on-site. The guiding element's fixed and movable portions can be separated, and the frame's modular walls and posts can be configured after delivery, reducing transport complexity while maintaining structural rigidity when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable portion of the guiding element can be detached or reconfigured during assembly, allowing the components to be transported in a compact state and then assembled into the final rigid structure. This dynamic assembly capability reduces transport and storage difficulties while ensuring the installed structure maintains the necessary rigidity and stability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A structure (1) for sliding doors, which comprises: - an in-wall frame (2) which internally defines an internal cavity (10) and comprises a passage opening (14) defined between two vertical side posts (41, 42); - an upper guide (8) along which an extractable supporting element (90) can slide which is adapted to support a door body (9) so as to guide its sliding into, and out of, said internal cavity (10) through the passage opening (14), and - a guiding element (50) adapted to be fixed in a fixed position relative to the in-wall frame (2) and provided with a vertical protrusion (51) which is adapted to engage a lower slot of the door body (9) in order to limit the sliding thereof along a sliding axis; the guiding element (50) comprises two main lateral projections (52, 53), which are arranged at two opposite lateral ends, each one defining an interlocking recess (55, 56) which is adapted to accommodate a respective appendage (43, 44) of one of the two vertical side posts (41, 42) in order to provide a fixed condition for use.