Sliding Panel System with Concealed Carrier Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sliding glass shower door systems have bulky rail and carrier assemblies that detract from the sleek, frameless appearance and require a more compact and concealed support system.

Innovation Solution

A sliding panel system comprising a rail member, carrier units, and fitting units where the carrier units have a housing that conceals roller units and guide structures, allowing the panels to move laterally while maintaining a streamlined appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If frameless glass panels are used to achieve a sleek appearance, then aesthetic quality is improved, but the rail and carrier assemblies become bulky and visible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic qualityVSAvoidrail and carrier assembly size

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier unit is designed with a housing that contains and conceals the roller units and guide structures within its interior space. The roller units are nested inside the housing, with the guide structures also contained within the housing, creating a compact integrated assembly that minimizes visible dimensions while maintaining support functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing of the carrier unit is designed as a sleek, streamlined shell that conceals the internal mechanical components. This thin-walled housing structure provides the necessary containment while maintaining a minimal visual profile that preserves the aesthetic quality of the frameless glass panel system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Shape

If the carrier assembly is made compact to improve appearance, then aesthetic quality is improved, but the complexity of concealing components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic qualityVSAvoidcarrier unit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing, roller units, and guide structures are merged into a single integrated carrier unit assembly. The housing serves multiple functions: it contains the roller units, houses the guide structures, and provides the aesthetic exterior. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components while achieving the compact concealed design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11773636B2Sliding panel system and method

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 FRAMELESS HARDWARE CO LLC

AI summary

A sliding panel system is disclosed. The system includes a fitting assembly designed to fixedly secure a first panel to an elongate rail member, and a carrier assembly designed to moveably secure a second panel to the elongate rail member. The system facilitates the lateral movement of the second panel with respect to the first panel. The carrier assembly includes at least one carrier unit including a housing with an inner volume, at least one roller unit configured in an upper portion of the inner volume, at least one guide member configured in the inner volume, and an opening extending across the front of the housing and adapted to receive a longitudinal portion of the rail member. The at least one roller unit and the at least one guide member are concealed within the housing when the housing is viewed from a perspective perpendicular to the front of the housing.