Cladding Assembly for Mesh Fence Using Segmented Connecting Piece
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for concealing lattice fences are either unreliable or cumbersome, particularly when it comes to attaching individual slats, and do not accommodate a wide range of blade types or materials.
Innovation Solution
A system involving individual slats with a through orifice and a connecting piece featuring multiple lugs for secure attachment, allowing for rapid, robust, and reliable fixing to lattice fences, regardless of blade type or material, including rigid or flexible blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual privacy slats are attached to the fence using traditional methods, then privacy is provided, but the attachment is unreliable and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece is divided into multiple lugs (at least two) that can independently engage with different horizontal bars of the fence. This segmentation allows the single connecting piece to securely attach multiple slats to multiple fence bars simultaneously, providing reliable attachment while reducing installation time compared to traditional individual attachment methods
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting piece acts as an intermediary component between the slats and the fence structure. It features lugs that engage with horizontal fence bars and attachment means for securing slats, thereby mediating the connection between these elements and enabling quick, reliable assembly without direct attachment of each slat to the fence
2Strength
If a one-piece stop is created within the slat by cutting and folding, then the stop is robust, but the slat requires sufficient rigidity and thickness that limits blade type compatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The stop function is segmented from the slat body and transferred to the connecting piece. The connecting piece has lugs that engage with fence horizontal bars to provide the stopping/retaining function, while the slats themselves remain simple elements without complex folded structures. This allows compatibility with thin, thick, rigid, flexible, solid, or hollow blades
Solution Approach 2:
The stop function is extracted from the slat structure and placed in the connecting piece. Instead of creating a robust stop within each slat by cutting and folding (which requires rigid/thick material), the retaining stop capability is taken out and provided by the connecting piece's lugs engaging with the fence horizontal bars
3Reliability
If multiple clips are used to attach each cladding panel, then attachment is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple attachment functions are merged into a single connecting piece. Instead of using multiple separate clips to attach each panel, the connecting piece integrates multiple lugs and attachment means that can secure multiple slats to multiple fence horizontal bars in a single operation, dramatically improving installation speed while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting piece is designed as a universal component that can attach different types of slats (rigid, flexible, solid, hollow, thin, thick) to various fence structures. Its multiple lugs can engage with different horizontal bar configurations, and its attachment means can accommodate different slat types, providing multi-functional capability that replaces multiple specialized clips
Data Source
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AI summary
The cladding system for a wire mesh fence, and in particular for privacy screening, comprises at least one cladding panel and a fastening system for attaching the cladding panel to the wire mesh fence. The cladding panel (2A) has a through hole (21) at one end. The fastening system includes a connecting piece (3A) that allows for the attachment of several cladding panels and which includes, for each cladding panel, at least one connecting element (31) adapted to pass through the through hole (21) of the cladding panel. The fastening system further includes means (4A; 4B) for assembling the connecting piece (3A) to a wire mesh fence (1A; 1B).