Elastic Bottom Wall Nameplate-Button Group for Watertight Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing outdoor intercom units face issues with water and humidity penetration, complex wiring, and laborious nameplate/button replacement processes, requiring disassembly and screw manipulation.

Innovation Solution

A nameplate-button group with an elastic bottom wall for a watertight seal and bayonet-style coupling, allowing for easy insertion and removal without disassembling the cover panel, and featuring a gasket element for moisture sealing and backlighting capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the cover panel is designed with openings and housing seats for components, then the intercom unit can be assembled with buttons, nameplates, microphone and loudspeaker, but water and humidity can penetrate through these openings leading to damage and malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidwater resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A gasket element made of flexible material is introduced to create a waterproof seal between the cover panel and the housing structure. The gasket compensates for manufacturing tolerances and maintains water resistance while allowing the cover panel to be easily assembled with standard fastening means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If the nameplate and button are fixed in the housing structure, then the intercom unit is complete, but replacement of nameplate or button requires disassembly of the entire cover panel and manipulation of screws

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixed positionVSAvoidreplacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is segmented into modular components: the cover panel, the housing structure containing the button and nameplate, and the gasket element. This segmentation allows the nameplate and button to be securely fixed during operation while enabling easy replacement by simply detaching the cover panel without manipulating screws.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening function is extracted from the cover panel itself and implemented through the gasket element that creates friction-based retention. This allows the cover panel to be easily attached and detached without requiring screw manipulation, while still maintaining secure fixation of components during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the cover panel is disassembled to replace nameplate or button, then component replacement is possible, but the operation becomes inconvenient and laborious requiring screw manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent accessibilityVSAvoiddisassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket element provides self-retaining functionality through friction and elastic deformation, allowing the cover panel to automatically secure itself to the housing structure without requiring additional fastening operations. This eliminates the need for screw manipulation while maintaining secure assembly during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables rapid and simple nameplate/button replacement, improved water and humidity resistance, and simplified installation without the need for screw manipulation, enhancing operational convenience and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

the bottom wall is made of elastic material in order to deform and provide a watertight seal with respect to the second seat (12b) of the housing structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

featuring a gasket element for moisture sealing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentEP3515049B1Nameplate-button group for outdoor intercom unit of an intercom and/or video door entry system and outdoor intercom unit using the same
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 COMELIT GRP
  • EP3515049B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3515049B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3515049B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention generally relates to a nameplate-button group for an outdoor intercom unit of an intercom and/or video door entry system and an outdoor intercom unit using the same group. In particular, the nameplate-button group (10) comprises a housing structure (12) defining at least a first seat (12a) configured to at least partially accommodate a button (13) and a second seat (12b) configured to at least partially accommodate a nameplate (14), in the second seat (12b) there being housed a box-like structure (17,18) for containing the nameplate (14) comprising a protective cover (18) having a box-shaped configuration with an open side and a bottom wall (17) configured for closing the open side of the protective cover (18) and is characterized in that the bottom wall (17) is at least partially made of an elastic material and is arranged internally to the second seat (12b) of the housing structure (12) so as to elastically interfere against at least two opposite sides of the second seat (12b).