Anti seismic protection device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anti-seismic protection devices for homes, especially in old buildings, face challenges in providing effective protection during earthquakes due to space constraints and the need to remain empty, as they are often filled with household items, rendering them unusable during seismic events.

Innovation Solution

An anti-seismic protection device designed to resemble a shower cabin, utilizing a carbon fibre base and cap frame with intermediate tubular uprights and peripheral walls, which can be installed in place of or alongside a shower cabin, ensuring it remains empty and accessible while providing structural integrity and protection from debris.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective capsule is installed in a home to provide anti-seismic protection, then safety during earthquakes is improved, but the footprint space occupied by the capsule increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-seismic protectionVSAvoidfootprint space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective capsule is merged with the shower cabin structure, combining safety function with a necessary household facility. The capsule incorporates shower tray, walls, and roofing elements that form both a protective enclosure and a functional shower space, eliminating the need for separate dedicated capsule space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The structure serves dual purposes: it functions as a normal shower cabin for daily use and as an anti-seismic protective capsule during earthquakes. The same walls, roof, and base frame provide both shower containment and seismic protection, maximizing space efficiency.

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

2Reliability

If a protective capsule is installed in a home to provide anti-seismic protection, then safety during earthquakes is improved, but the capsule must remain empty and accessible which limits storage utility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-seismic protectionVSAvoidstorage utility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protective capsule is merged with the shower cabin structure, combining safety function with a necessary household facility. The capsule incorporates shower tray, walls, and roofing elements that form both a protective enclosure and a functional shower space, eliminating the need for separate dedicated capsule space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The structure serves dual purposes: it functions as a normal shower cabin for daily use and as an anti-seismic protective capsule during earthquakes. The same walls, roof, and base frame provide both shower containment and seismic protection, maximizing space efficiency.

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

3Reliability

If a reinforced protective capsule is installed to guarantee protection during earthquakes, then safety is improved, but the capsule is often filled with household effects which makes it unusable when needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective functionVSAvoidimmediate accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective capsule is merged with the shower cabin structure, combining safety function with a necessary household facility. The capsule incorporates shower tray, walls, and roofing elements that form both a protective enclosure and a functional shower space, eliminating the need for separate dedicated capsule space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The structure serves dual purposes: it functions as a normal shower cabin for daily use and as an anti-seismic protective capsule during earthquakes. The same walls, roof, and base frame provide both shower containment and seismic protection, maximizing space efficiency.

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

4Strength

If carbon fibre tubular elements and beams are used to construct the frame, then structural strength and seismic resistance are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is segmented into modular components: base frame portion with tubular elements and beams, intermediate frame portion with uprights and walls, and cap frame portion with roofing elements. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of carbon fibre components and simplified assembly through standardized connection interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes carbon fibre composite materials for the tubular elements and beams, providing high strength-to-weight ratio and seismic resistance. The composite material construction allows for modular assembly while maintaining structural integrity under seismic loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3555389B1Anti seismic protection device
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 BORRI SABINA
  • EP3555389B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3555389B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3555389B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The present invention relates to an anti- seismic protection device (1) that can be installed in a home, comprising: - a base frame portion (2A) comprising at least four base tubular elements (21A) made of carbon fibre arranged in plan so as to constitute the vertices of a base rectangle, said tubular elements being connected to each other by means of tubular base frame beams (23 A) made of carbon fibre, arranged to form diagonals of the base rectangle, - a shower tray (3) coupled to said base frame portion (2A) provided with a water drainage hole, - a cap frame portion (2B) comprising at least four cap tubular elements (21B) made of carbon fibre arranged in plan so as to constitute the vertices of a cap rectangle, said tubular elements being connected to each other by means of tubular cap frame beams (23B) made of carbon fibre, said second tubular cap frame elements (23B) being arranged to form diagonals of the cap rectangle, wherein each tubular cap element (21B) in operating condition is placed on the vertical of a corresponding base tubular element (21A), spaced therefrom - an intermediate frame portion (2C) comprising four tubular uprights (21C) that can each be coupled at an opposite free end to one of the four base tubular elements (21A) and to the corresponding cap tubular element (21B) placed on the vertical, and wherein the intermediate frame portion (2C) further comprises at least three peripheral walls (22C), each peripheral wall (22C) extending between two neighbouring uprights (21C) - a water dispenser coupled to the cap frame portion (2B) or to the intermediate frame portion (2C), such that the anti-seismic protection device (1) can be used as a shower cabin.