Floating Image Mount Structure With Rigid Frameless Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional image display methods are prone to damage, difficult to transport, and vulnerable to illegal copying due to the use of thin, flexible materials, while attempting to use rigid materials results in an unsightly 'box' effect.

Innovation Solution

An image display apparatus featuring a laminated arrangement of a backing panel with raised portions and a transparent backing support panel that extends beyond the perimeter, providing rigidity and a 'floating' effect, while minimizing damage risk and preventing copying through front loading and secure mounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If thin sheets of modern materials (plastics and metals) are used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the structure becomes flexible and vulnerable to damage during transport and mounting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidstructural rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines thin sheets of modern materials (plastics like Perspex and metals like aluminium) with a foam core material to create a composite structure. This composite construction maintains the cost advantages of thin modern materials while the foam core provides the necessary rigidity and structural strength to prevent flexing during transport and mounting, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing cost and structural rigidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If traditional rigid cardboard box structure is used to provide rigidity, then structural strength is improved, but the appearance becomes unsightly with visible overhang

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies rigidity-enhancing foam core material specifically in the corners and along the edges of the mounting board, rather than throughout the entire structure. This localized application provides the necessary structural strength to prevent flexing while minimizing the visible overhang and maintaining a clean, frameless aesthetic appearance, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural rigidity and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If corner protection is added to prevent damage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage resistanceVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates corner protection elements directly into the foam core structure itself, rather than adding separate corner guards or protective components. The foam core is shaped to extend slightly beyond the mounting board edges at the corners, providing built-in protection against damage during handling and transport. This merging of functions maintains reliability while avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2768352B1Image display apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 THE SHADOW GAP
  • EP2768352B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(c)
  • EP2768352B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP2768352B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An image display apparatus (10) comprising a backing panel (12), one or more first raised portions (14) located on the backing panel (12), each first raised portion (14) having an upper surface upon which is secured an image (18) for display; and a backing support panel (11) upon which is mounted the said backing panel (12), the backing support panel (11) comprising a transparent material and having a perimeter such that the perimeter of the backing support panel (11) extends at least to a perimeter of the backing panel (12).