Retractable Arched Window Covering With Segmented Carriage Track
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current retractable window coverings for arched windows lack aesthetic appeal, are cumbersome, and are not available for larger diameters, with conventional solutions like cellular or pleated blinds often failing to provide a suitable, simple, and aesthetically pleasing solution.
Innovation Solution
A retractable window covering system featuring an arched track with interior and exterior grooves, a movable carriage, and shade members with upper and lower rails, along with pleats that engage with the track, allowing for remote operation and hiding mechanical elements for an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional cellular or pleated blinds are fixed in an arched window and drawn around the outer arch, then the window can be covered, but the blinds may tear or distort and the mechanical elements remain visible and unattractive
Solution Approach 1:
The window covering is divided into multiple shade members that can be independently positioned and secured. Each shade member is a separate unit that can be held in place by carriages traveling along the arched track, allowing the covering to be segmented into manageable sections rather than one large blind that must stretch and distort around the arch.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses movable carriages that travel along the arched track to dynamically position and secure each shade member at different locations. This dynamic positioning allows the shade members to be held taut and secure at any point along the arch without requiring the entire blind to be stretched or distorted, preventing tearing while maintaining aesthetic appearance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If retractable window coverings are designed for arched windows, then the covering can be opened and closed, but they lack aesthetic appeal or are too cumbersome to use, especially for larger diameter arched windows
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional planar blind to a three-dimensional arched track system with carriages that move along the curve. This dimensional change allows the covering to be mounted on the arch itself rather than requiring the blind to stretch across the opening, making it adaptable to various arch diameters while maintaining ease of operation through the carriage mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Carriages serve as intermediary elements between the motorized or manual actuation system and the shade members. These carriages travel along the arched track and provide the mechanical interface for opening and closing the covering, making the system operable without requiring the entire blind to be manipulated at once, thus improving ease of use especially for larger arches.
3Adaptability or versatility
If retractable window coverings are designed for arched windows, then the covering can be opened and closed, but the mechanisms are relatively complex or unattractive
Solution Approach 1:
The arched track serves multiple functions: it provides the structural mounting framework, guides the movement of carriages, and defines the aesthetic profile visible when the covering is retracted. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex mechanical components, as the track itself performs several roles that would otherwise require additional parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical actuation mechanism is extracted and concealed within the carriages and track structure, removing the visible complexity from the front view. The carriages travel along the track with the mechanism hidden, and when the covering is closed, only the clean lines of the shade members are visible, eliminating the appearance of complex mechanical elements.
4Area of stationary object
If conventional blinds are used for arched windows, then the window can be covered, but the mechanical elements are in plain view and do not provide aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a curved arched track that follows the contour of the window arch, allowing the mechanical elements to be positioned along the curve rather than across the front view. The carriages travel along this curved path, and when retracted, the mechanism is hidden within the arch profile, maintaining aesthetic appearance while providing full window coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the blind cover the arch from the front with visible mechanical elements, the system inverts the approach by mounting the track on the arch itself and having the carriages travel along the curve. This reverses the traditional configuration, placing the mechanism within the arch profile rather than in front of it, thereby hiding the mechanical elements while maintaining coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A shade for an arched window including an arched track with a movable slide base and a pleated blind attached to the slide base. A cord actuates the slide base to move along the track and pull the blind between retracted and extended positions. A top rail of the blind is removably connected to the slide base by a connector and one or more pleats of the blind include connectors which are received within a groove along an inner wall of the track.