Flexible Plastic Cushion for Shading System Noise and Tension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shading systems are noisy due to wind-induced movement of the section bar within the uprights, causing damage to the shading material and suboptimal tension, and known cushion solutions are cumbersome and ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A plastic cushion system with a flexible tongue and C-shaped raceway is applied to the section bar, allowing the tongue to deform between the section bar and upright, preventing direct contact and maintaining optimal tension, while being easy to apply and cost-effective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the section bar is allowed to move freely in the uprights, then the piece of cloth can be tensioned optimally, but the section bar bangs against the uprights causing noise and damage
Solution Approach 1:
A cushion is introduced as an intermediary element between the section bar and the upright. The cushion absorbs the impact when the section bar moves against the upright, preventing the harmful banging noise while allowing the section bar to maintain its movement freedom for optimal cloth tension. The cushion acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between movement freedom and noise prevention.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the section bar is rigidly fastened to the uprights, then noise is prevented, but the piece of cloth cannot be tensioned optimally and may be damaged by wind
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion provides a dynamic solution rather than a static rigid fastening. It allows the section bar to move freely under normal conditions for optimal cloth tension, but automatically engages to absorb impact when the section bar strikes the upright, preventing noise. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between maintaining tension and preventing noise.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If small sponges are used to cushion the section bar, then noise is reduced, but the sponges wear out and detach, requiring difficult manual application
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from soft sponge to plastic, which is more durable and resistant to wear and detachment. The plastic cushion maintains its structural integrity over time while still providing the necessary cushioning effect. This parameter change addresses the reliability issue of sponge degradation.
4Ease of operation
If movement margin is left in the uprights, then the piece of cloth can move freely, but the section bar bangs against the uprights causing noise and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion serves as a mediator that allows the piece of cloth to move freely between the uprights while preventing the section bar from banging against the uprights. The cushion absorbs the impact energy, enabling free movement without the harmful noise and damage that would otherwise occur.
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 cushion system significantly reduces noise and prevents damage by absorbing wind-induced stresses, maintaining optimal cloth tension and facilitating easy assembly and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a plastic tongue having an end on the raceway and an opposed end spaced therefrom, at least one portion of said tongue being flexible, in order to cushion the contact between the upright and the section bar
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a cushion for shading system of the type comprising a piece of cloth slidingly fastened to a section bar of an upright. A raceway with a substantially C-shaped cross section serves to fasten the cushion to a section bar edge, and a flexible plastic tongue, having an end on the raceway and an opposed end spaced therefrom in order to contact the upright, serves as a spring between the section bar and the upright, allowing the section bar to come nearer to the upright in a compression phase or to be spaced in a predetermined way in the absence of compression.