Threshold Sign with Notched Ends for Hospital Entry Warnings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hospital room warning signs are inadequate in preventing the spread of airborne infectious diseases, as they fail to effectively alert individuals entering potentially hazardous areas, leading to unprotected access and the risk of disease transmission.
Innovation Solution
A doorway threshold sign with a rigid substrate and printed alerting indicia, designed to be securely positioned between the door threshold and door jambs, preventing lateral movement and ensuring visibility to individuals attempting to enter restricted areas, made from materials like plastic or metal to enhance durability and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional printed paper or plastic signs are posted on walls or doors, then the sign can be easily installed and maintained, but the sign fails to effectively alert individuals and allows unprotected access to hazardous areas
Solution Approach 1:
The warning sign is moved from vertical placement on walls/doors to horizontal placement on the floor threshold, creating a new spatial dimension for the warning. This threshold placement creates a physical barrier in the path of entry, making the warning more effective by intercepting individuals before they can access the hazardous area.
Solution Approach 2:
The threshold sign acts as an intermediary element between the safe area and the hazardous area. By placing the warning sign on the threshold, it serves as a mediating barrier that alerts individuals and prevents direct access to the hazardous zone, thereby reducing the harmful effects of unprotected access.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the substrate is made rigid to prevent lateral movement, then the sign stability is improved, but the ease of installation and maintenance may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is designed as a thin, flexible sign that can be easily placed on the threshold and secured with tape or adhesive. This thin-film approach maintains stability when properly positioned while preserving ease of installation and maintenance, avoiding the need for heavy rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sign incorporates self-securing features such as adhesive backing or tape application that allow it to be easily installed and removed by the end user without requiring complex installation procedures. This self-service capability maintains stability during use while preserving ease of operation for installation and maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A doorway threshold sign for use in a door threshold includes a relatively rigid substrate which includes a printed alerting indicia thereon. The substrate is of a length to extend between the door threshold and includes ends which each have a notched surface configured to receive at least a door stop of a door jamb of a door frame when the substrate is disposed on the floor between the door jambs of the door frame.