Concealed Panel Carriage Assembly for Flat Curtain Rails

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional panel curtain systems with visible panel carriers detract from the aesthetic appeal and complicate the assembly process, as the connection points remain visible, making it difficult to attach curtains without interfering with the attachment mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A panel carriage system with a suspension device featuring links that allow the panel carriage to be raised or removed from the rail without dismantling, enabling easy assembly and concealment of the carriers behind screens, ensuring all fastening devices are invisible from the outside.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If panel carriers are attached to rails using Velcro connection, then assembly is simplified, but the connection points remain visible from the outside, deteriorating the aesthetic appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidvisibility of connection points
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the panel carrier from the visible front area by providing a recess in the rail that receives the panel carrier, hiding it from external view while maintaining the Velcro connection functionality for easy assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The panel carrier is nested within the recess of the rail structure, allowing it to be concealed behind the front surface of the rail while still functioning as the attachment point for the panel curtain

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If screens are added to conceal panel carriers, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but the screens must be dismantled when curtains are changed, increasing complexity and cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of connection pointsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the concealment function directly into the rail structure by providing a recess that receives the panel carrier, eliminating the need for separate screens and reducing system complexity while maintaining aesthetic appearance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple curtain rails are arranged one behind another, then design flexibility is improved, but panel carriers on rear rails remain visible despite front facing, deteriorating appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverail configuration flexibilityVSAvoidvisibility of rear panel carriers
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts panel carriers from the visible surface by providing recesses in each rail that receive the carriers, ensuring that even rear rails have their carriers concealed, maintaining aesthetic appearance while allowing multiple rails to be arranged in various configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2077084B1Panel car and system for hanging area curtains
Publication Date: 2012.05.16 INTERSTIL DIEDRICHSEN
  • EP2077084B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2077084B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2077084B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

The panel carriage (4) has a hanging device (2) for placing a curtain guide rail (3) in a retainer (3a). The hanging device is formed such that the panel carriage is displaced into usage position. The retaining device and panel carriage are coupled directly or indirectly by a handlebar. The handlebar is arranged so that the panel carriage is transferred from the usage position into an assembly position for placing a curtain element (1) at the panel carriage. An independent claim is included for a system for hanging of flat curtain.