Spring Force Indicator for Door Closure Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door closure systems lack an intuitive and clear method to indicate the adjusted spring force, making it difficult for users to accurately set the desired closing force according to ANSI standards.
Innovation Solution
A spring force indicator system featuring a drive wheel coupled to the spring force adjuster and a driven wheel with visible indicia, where the driven wheel includes a disc and post engaging the drive wheel, and a cover with additional indicia, allowing the user to rotate the spring force adjuster to align an arrow with numbers indicating the selected ANSI force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional door closure systems use a simple spring force adjuster, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation is poor because users cannot clearly determine the selected ANSI force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary indicator mechanism (drive wheel, driven wheel, and cover with indicia) that mediates between the spring force adjuster and the user. This intermediary system translates the abstract adjustment into visible, interpretable information through gear-driven rotation and aligned markings, resolving the contradiction by adding controlled complexity that enhances operability without unnecessary complication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the indicator system provides visual confirmation of the selected spring force setting. The drive wheel connected to the adjuster and the driven wheel with indicia create a feedback loop that displays the current ANSI force selection to the user, enabling informed operation and precise control while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure
2Measurement precision
If the door closure uses a clear and intuitive indicator system with multiple wheels and indicia, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the indicator system into distinct functional components: a drive wheel for receiving input, a driven wheel for displaying information, and a cover with additional indicia for confirmation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, achieving precise measurement indication while keeping the overall design modular and manageable rather than monolithic and overly complex
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple copies of indicia (first indicia on the driven wheel and second indicia on the cover) that represent the same spring force information. This redundancy provides clear, precise indication through multiple visual channels while using simple, replicated graphical elements rather than complex encoding systems, thereby achieving measurement precision without excessive device complexity
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
Provides a clear and intuitive way for users to set the spring force, ensuring accurate alignment with ANSI standards by using visible indicia on the driven wheel and cover, facilitating precise adjustment of the door closure rate.
Implementation Method 1
The drive wheel includes at least one gear tooth and the driven wheel includes a plurality of gear teeth
Data Source
AI summary
A spring force indicator for a door closure having a spring force adjuster comprises a drive wheel coupled to the spring force adjuster for rotation therewith and a driven wheel. The driven wheel includes a disc and a post extending from the disc, the post being disposed in a bore formed in a front surface of the door closure and adapted to engage the drive wheel for rotation therewith. A cover being disposed on the end of the door closure and configured to cover the drive wheel and the driven wheel. The cover includes a sidewall, a central aperture for receiving the spring force adjuster, a second aperture disposed between the central aperture and the sidewall, and second indicia disposed around the second aperture. The disc includes first indicia visible through the second aperture which cooperates with the second indicia to indicate a measure of spring force.