Double-layer Roman shade folding structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Roman shades with U-shaped rings face issues such as exposed hardware affecting appearance, inconsistent ring heights leading to difficult assembly, and instability during folding, resulting in time-consuming and unreliable operation.

Innovation Solution

A double-layer Roman shade folding structure featuring a bracket, roller tube, inner and outer curtain fabrics, and strip-shaped limiting members, where the limiting members are detachably attached to the inner surface of the outer curtain fabric, allowing for smooth and stable folding by creating a continuous parallel fold along designated fold lines, without exposing hardware on the outer surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If U-shaped rings are used to clamp the outer curtain fabric and inner curtain fabric, then the Roman shade can be moved up and down, but the U-shaped rings are exposed on the side affecting the appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement of Roman shadeVSAvoidappearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the exposed U-shaped rings from the outer surface and replaces them with limiting members that are attached to the inner surface of the outer curtain fabric. The limiting members are positioned inside the fold lines, making them invisible from the outside while still performing the clamping function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from using external U-shaped rings (external dimension) to using limiting members attached to the inner surface (internal dimension). This moves the functional element from the external visible surface to the internal hidden surface, resolving the appearance issue while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If U-shaped rings clamp the outer curtain fabric and inner curtain fabric tightly, then the fabrics are retained, but the inner curtain fabric cannot move smoothly between the inner surface of the outer curtain fabric and the U-shaped ring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention of fabricsVSAvoidsmooth movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The limiting members are designed with specific local properties: they have a clamping function at one end (to retain the inner curtain fabric) and a smooth surface at the contact area (to allow smooth movement). This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between tight retention and smooth movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If U-shaped rings are installed on both sides of the outer curtain fabric and inner curtain fabric, then the Roman shade can be retained, but the heights of the U-shaped rings on both sides may be inconsistent requiring repeated adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveretentionVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the retention function into multiple limiting members distributed along the vertical direction. Each limiting member is independently attachable to the inner surface of the outer curtain fabric at different heights, eliminating the need for complex adjustments of a single U-shaped ring structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The limiting members are designed to be detachably attached to the inner surface of the outer curtain fabric, allowing for preliminary positioning and easy adjustment during assembly. This preliminary attachability simplifies the assembly process by eliminating repeated height adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Stability of the object's composition

If U-shaped rings are used to clamp the fabrics, then the Roman shade can be retained, but the U-shaped ring is likely to fall off when the inner curtain fabric and outer curtain fabric are relatively moved

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveretentionVSAvoidstability during folding

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple limiting members along the vertical direction to work together as a unified retention system. This distributed arrangement provides continuous retention force and prevents any single limiting member from dislodging during fabric movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The limiting members are detachably attached to the inner surface of the outer curtain fabric in advance, ensuring they are securely positioned before the Roman shade is assembled. This preliminary attachment prevents them from falling off during subsequent fabric movement and folding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10815724B2Double-layer Roman shade folding structure

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 YANG SEN HSU

AI summary

A double-layer Roman shade folding structure includes a bracket. The bracket is provided with an outer curtain fabric, a roller tube, and an inner curtain fabric. The outer curtain fabric is provided with a plurality of strip-shaped limiting members that are arranged horizontally and spaced apart at equal intervals. An opening is defined between the limiting members and the outer curtain fabric for the inner curtain fabric to pass therethrough. When the bottom end of the inner curtain fabric drives the bottom end of the outer curtain fabric to be moved up, the plurality of limiting members are pushed and moved up in sequence so that the outer curtain fabric is folded and overlapped continuously.