Device for inserting curtain gliders into a guide rail

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for inserting curtain gliders into guide rails either prevent recombination of curtain gliders into handling units or hinder the attachment of curtains due to design limitations, such as support strands or glider rails that restrict flexibility and functionality.

Innovation Solution

The device features lateral insertion openings in the receiving recesses of the carrier, allowing curtain gliders to be easily assembled into handling units with or without a curtain, and includes a catch mechanism for retention, along with a guide bar for longitudinal eyelets and grooves for transverse eyelets, enabling secure and flexible use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If curtain gliders are connected to a support string for handling unit formation, then insertion into guide rail is facilitated, but the support string hinders curtain attachment to gliders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion into guide railVSAvoidcurtain attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support string is extracted from the system by providing a separate support bracket instead. The bracket holds multiple curtain gliders in a row without interfering with their eyelets, allowing both handling unit formation and curtain attachment. The bracket is removed after insertion into the guide rail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support bracket acts as an intermediary device that temporarily holds curtain gliders in a row for insertion into the guide rail. It mediates between the need for handling unit formation and the need for unobstructed curtain attachment, as the bracket is designed to clear the glider eyelets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If curtain gliders are inserted from above into downwardly open recesses, then handling unit formation is achieved, but prior curtain attachment is precluded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling unit formationVSAvoidprior curtain attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of inserting gliders from above into downwardly open recesses, the invention inverts the approach by providing upwardly open receiving recesses. Gliders are inserted from below through lateral insertion openings, allowing the eyelets to be accessible and the curtain to be attached before insertion into the guide rail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If multiple curtain gliders are held in a single receptacle, then handling efficiency is improved, but individual glider access and insertion control is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling efficiencyVSAvoidindividual glider access
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The single receptacle is segmented into multiple receiving recesses, each capable of holding one curtain glider. This segmentation allows individual gliders to be accessed and inserted independently while maintaining the efficiency of handling multiple gliders as a group through the unified bracket structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3434156B1Device for inserting curtain gliders into a guide rail
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 LEO DEMETZ KUNSTVERARBEITUNG
  • EP3434156B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3434156B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3434156B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A device for inserting curtain gliders (1) into a guide rail (2) is described, comprising a support (3) for the curtain gliders (1) arranged in a row one behind the other and detachable from the support (3), which engage in the guide rail (2) with sliding heads (7). To create advantageous design conditions, it is proposed that the support (3) has a receptacle (4) open on its side facing the guide rail (2) for the curtain gliders (1), which project freely beyond the receptacle (4) with their sliding heads (7).