Sliding Storm Door Track System Eliminates Swing Space

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storm doors require a significant swing space for opening, which can be obstructed by snow, and their swinging mechanism can be cumbersome for individuals with physical disabilities or carrying objects, and are prone to wind damage.

Innovation Solution

A storm door system that attaches to a track and rollers, allowing it to slide parallel to the door head, eliminating the need for swing space and reducing wind resistance, and can be easily installed as a retrofit with minimal modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a swinging storm door is used, then the door can be opened easily without special mechanisms, but it requires significant swing space that can be obstructed by snow and is cumbersome for individuals with disabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of openingVSAvoidswing space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the door swinging outward on hinges, the invention inverts the mechanism by using a track and roller system that allows the door to slide horizontally along the track. This eliminates the need for outward swing space while maintaining easy opening operation. The roller moves along the track from the closed position to the open position, achieving door opening without requiring the traditional swing arc.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions the door opening motion from a rotational movement (swinging in an arc) to a linear translational movement along a horizontal track. By changing the dimension of motion from rotational to linear, the door can open without requiring the radial swing space that would be obstructed by snow accumulation in front of the doorway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If a swinging storm door is used, then the door mechanism is simple, but it is prone to wind damage and can be caught by gusts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor mechanism simplicityVSAvoidwind damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the traditional hinged swinging mechanism and replaces it with a track-guided linear sliding system. This prevents the door from being caught by wind gusts because the door cannot swing outward to catch the wind - it is constrained to move only along the horizontal track. The door remains parallel to the door head throughout its motion, eliminating the wind-catch problem inherent in swinging doors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the motion parameter of the door from rotational angle (swing arc) to linear displacement along a track. By constraining the door to move only horizontally along the track and remain parallel to the door head, the door cannot be caught by wind gusts that would normally push against a swinging door during its arc of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a return spring system is used in a swinging storm door, then the door automatically closes, but it requires the user to hold the door open against the spring force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic door closingVSAvoidease of holding door open

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the return spring mechanism from the door system. Instead of using a spring to force the door closed, the track and roller system allows the door to be held open without resistance. The door can be positioned at any point along the track and will remain in place without requiring the user to counteract spring force, thereby eliminating the difficulty of holding the door open while still allowing automatic closing when released.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Volume of moving object

If a sliding storm door is used, then swing space is eliminated and wind damage is reduced, but the installation requires additional components like tracks and rollers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswing spaceVSAvoidinstallation components

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements a horizontal track system that guides the door along a linear path parallel to the door head. This dimensional change from rotational to linear motion eliminates the need for outward swing space while the track and roller components provide the necessary guidance and support for the sliding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10641024B2Easy glide storm door

Publication Date: 2020.05.05 WYPYCH ZDZISLAW STANISLAW MR

AI summary

A method of installing a storm door is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: attaching a track to a door head; attaching one or more rollers to the track; and attaching the storm door to the one or more rollers. After the storm door is installed, the storm door can be slid along a length of the track between an open position and a closed position. While sliding the storm door between the open position and the closed position, the storm door remains generally parallel to the door head.