Expansion Strip Sealing for Window Frames

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern window and door frames with nano-coatings require a sealing solution that maintains a reliable and permanent seal despite temperature fluctuations and non-permanent adhesion surfaces, as existing plaster strips often detach, allowing moisture and water to enter, leading to mold growth and increased heating costs.

Innovation Solution

A one-piece sealing or plastering strip with a base area and expansion strips that expand upon release, providing a temporary fastening mechanism to ensure a seal even with changing distances between building components and thermal insulation or plaster layers, using a combination of adhesive strips and expansion tapes to maintain contact without permanent adhesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional adhesive tape is used to permanently bond the plastering strip to the window or door frame, then the sealing effect is initially reliable, but the plastering strip becomes detached over time due to temperature fluctuations and non-permanent adhesion surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectVSAvoidbonding duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing strip is divided into functionally distinct segments: a base portion for structural support and positioning, an expansion strip for sealing contact, and a fastening means for temporary attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without the limitations of a unified permanent bonding system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The expansion strip is designed to be dynamically adjustable in length, expanding when the distance between the building component and thermal insulation increases due to temperature fluctuations. This dynamic adaptation maintains continuous sealing contact without requiring permanent rigid bonding, resolving the contradiction between initial sealing reliability and long-term bonding durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the plastering strip is designed to accommodate increased distance through expansion, then sealing is maintained under temperature variations, but the fastening means must be detached allowing moisture or water to enter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance accommodationVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The expansion strip acts as an intermediary element between the fastening means and the building component. It absorbs the dimensional changes caused by temperature fluctuations while maintaining sealing contact, preventing the fastening means from detaching and blocking moisture entry paths without compromising sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If a nano-coating is applied to the window or door frame surface, then dirt adhesion is reduced and cleaning frequency is decreased, but permanent bonding of the plastering strip becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance effortVSAvoidbonding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is designed to be self-sufficient without relying on permanent adhesion to the building component surface. The expansion strip's mechanical expansion capability and the fastening means' temporary holding function work together to maintain sealing, eliminating the need for strong surface bonding while preserving the nano-coating's low-maintenance benefits.

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

The solution provides a reliable and permanent seal, preventing moisture penetration and accommodating temperature-related changes, ensuring effective sealing and reduced maintenance costs by using an expansion strip that follows changes in distance between building components and thermal insulation or plaster layers.

Implementation Method 1

The expansion strip is held in a compressed state by a retaining means and is designed or has such a reserve of stretch that upon release of the retaining means it will expand to a maximum extension position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

at least one fastening means arranged next to it for at least temporarily fastening the sealing or plastering strip on the building component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2292886B1Single part sealing or plaster strip
Publication Date: 2015.03.25 BRAUN AUGUST
  • EP2292886B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2292886B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP2292886B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The strip (2) has a base area (4) comprising expansion strips (18) provided at a rear side. The expansion strips extend along the plastering strip. The expansion strips are held by a holding unit (20) in a pressed condition. The expansion strips are provided such that the expansion strips expand after loosening of the holding unit in a maximum expansion position, which is distanced from a rear side of the base area to ensure sealed attachment of the plastering strip at the building-component, during an enlarged distance between the building component and a heat insulator or a plastering layer. The holding unit is designed as a covering band or a closing cap. An independent claim is also included for a passage that comprises a gap.