Dual-Curved Leaf Spring for Durable Retractable Screens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable screen constructions face issues with durability and fatigue due to single curved regions in leaf springs, leading to torsional forces, manufacturing complexity, and environmental wear, especially in outdoor conditions.
Innovation Solution
A leaf spring design with at least two curved regions oriented perpendicularly to the screen guide and support, featuring a Z-shaped or S-shaped configuration, reduces fatigue by distributing load and providing optimal force transfer, enhancing durability and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a retractable screen is provided with a housing and a screen supported by a roller mechanism, then the screen can be retracted into the housing, but the housing protrudes from the plane of the opening and occupies valuable wall space
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is nested within the roller mechanism, which is in turn nested within the housing. The roller mechanism allows the screen to be stored compactly inside the housing, enabling the housing to fit within a minimal protrusion distance from the wall opening while maintaining full screen functionality.
2Shape
If the screen is pulled taut during retraction, then the screen maintains a neat appearance, but the force required to operate the screen increases
Solution Approach 1:
The roller mechanism is designed to dynamically adjust the tension on the screen during retraction. The screen is pulled taut only to the extent necessary for aesthetic appearance, with the roller mechanism accommodating variations in tension to maintain a neat appearance while keeping operating forces at acceptable levels.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A retractable screen construction (1) comprising: comprising: a support; a screen guide located in the support; a retractable screen (4) having a lateral side guided in the screen guide; and a leaf spring to tension the screen. The leaf spring comprises a connection region extending between regions where the leaf spring engages the support and the screen guide. The connection region comprises first and second curved region which curves in opposite rotational direction, wherein a hypothetical cylinder tangential to either one of the curved regions extends in a direction perpendicular to the screen. By providing at least two curved regions with a different curvature direction, the amount of deformation of each curved region in order to account for the dynamic load exerted by the screen is reduced, leading to an improved durability of the leaf spring.