Symmetrical Front Door Leaf with Central Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current front doors for residential buildings face challenges in being both cost-effective and meeting standards for thermal insulation and burglary protection, with existing designs often compromising on either aspect.

Innovation Solution

A front door leaf and frame design that is symmetrical to allow for 180° rotation, featuring a multi-point locking device with a symmetrical engagement area and a box-lid construction with insulating foam, ensuring heat transfer coefficients below 1.8 W/m²K and burglary protection according to EN1627 WK1, while being easily reversible for left/right installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a front door is designed with standard asymmetric locking mechanisms and door leaf construction, then it meets burglary protection standards and provides functional security, but it cannot be installed on both left and right sides and requires separate door designs for each configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleft/right usabilityVSAvoiddoor construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry in reverse by creating a symmetrical door leaf design where the locking mechanism engagement area is positioned at the center of the door leaf. This central positioning allows the door to function equally well when hinged on either the left or right side, eliminating the need for asymmetric left-handed or right-handed door configurations. The symmetrical design enables universal installation while maintaining all security functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If a front door uses conventional asymmetric multi-point locking devices, then it provides adequate burglary protection, but the door requires different locking mechanisms for left and right installations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereversible installationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing a multi-point locking device with a centrally positioned engagement area that can serve both left-handed and right-handed door configurations. The locking mechanism maintains all its security functions (multiple locking points, bolt engagement, etc.) while being adaptable to either installation orientation. This universal design eliminates the need to manufacture separate locking mechanisms for left and right doors, simplifying production while maintaining burglary protection standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a front door is designed as a standard non-reversible door, then it meets thermal insulation standards with simple construction, but it requires separate doors for left and right installations increasing inventory complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesingle door design for both sidesVSAvoiddoor inventory varieties
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies symmetry (reverse asymmetry) to the door leaf and frame design, creating a universally installable door that can be hung on either the left or right side. The frame members and door leaf are designed with symmetrical features that allow identical doors to serve both installation configurations. This reduces inventory requirements from needing separate left-handed and right-handed door designs to using a single universal door design for both sides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

The design enables easier and more cost-effective production of front doors that meet thermal insulation and burglary protection standards, allowing for flexible installation and reduced manufacturing complexity, while maintaining an attractive design.

Implementation Method 1

the interior being filled with PU rigid foam as insulating material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2302156B1House/door element which can be used on the left or right
Publication Date: 2016.04.20 HORMANN BRANDIS
  • EP2302156B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2302156B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP2302156B1 patent drawingFigure 7~11

AI summary

The door leaf (14) has an assembly symmetric to a transverse center plane that extends vertical to a broad side of the door leaf, where heat transmission co-efficient of the door leaf is less than 1.8 watt per square meter Kelvin. A multiple-locking device (46) has three locking elements actuatable by a common centrally arranged lock unit (76). The locking device has an engaging region by which the device is embedded in a corresponding accommodator in a door leaf body, where an outer contour of the engaging region is formed symmetric to the transverse center plane. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a front-door comprising a front-door leaf (2) a method for providing a front-door (3) a method for manufacturing a front-door leaf.