Glue Manifold for Shutter Rail Adhesive Distribution

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shutter assemblies face issues with adhesive bond strength and application process, as the adhesive tends to be removed during assembly, resulting in weak bonds and a messy, inefficient coating process.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a glue manifold in the top and bottom rails to evenly distribute adhesive onto the rails and into the channels of the stiles, ensuring a strong and consistent bond between the rails and stiles, while also simplifying the adhesive application process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If adhesive is applied to rails before inserting into stiles, then the rails can be secured to the stiles, but the adhesive tends to be removed and does not adequately cover the rails, creating a weak adhesive bond

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesive bond strengthVSAvoidadhesive coverage uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates adhesive application channels and distribution features directly into the rail structure before assembly. The adhesive is delivered through predefined pathways that ensure proper placement and distribution, preventing removal and ensuring adequate coverage before the bonding process begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces adhesive delivery channels and distribution features as intermediary structures within the rails. These intermediaries guide and control adhesive flow, ensuring uniform distribution along the bonding surfaces and preventing adhesive removal during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If adhesive is applied to rails before inserting into stiles, then the rails can be secured to the stiles, but the process is sticky and messy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly process cleanlinessVSAvoidmessiness during assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces adhesive delivery channels and distribution features as intermediary structures within the rails. These intermediaries guide and control adhesive flow, ensuring uniform distribution along the bonding surfaces and preventing adhesive removal during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the adhesive application process from a manual, messy operation and incorporates it into the rail structure itself through integrated channels and distribution features. This extraction eliminates the need for external adhesive application tools and methods that create messiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If adhesive is applied manually to rails, then the rails can be secured to the stiles, but the adhesive does not remain evenly coated, leading to assembly failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly bond reliabilityVSAvoidadhesive coating uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates adhesive application channels and distribution features directly into the rail structure before assembly. The adhesive is delivered through predefined pathways that ensure proper placement and distribution, preventing removal and ensuring adequate coverage before the bonding process begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces adhesive delivery channels and distribution features as intermediary structures within the rails. These intermediaries guide and control adhesive flow, ensuring uniform distribution along the bonding surfaces and preventing adhesive removal during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7669380B2Glue manifold for a functional shutter

Publication Date: 2010.03.02 WESTLAKE ROYAL BUILDING PRODUCTS INC

AI summary

A shutter assembly mounts adjacent an opening of a building. The shutter assembly includes a right stile and a left stile disposed in a spaced and parallel opposing relationship with one another and each having a U-shaped cross section presenting a base and side walls. The side walls extend from the base to spaced distal edges to define a channel open at each end of the respective stiles. A top rail and a bottom rail extend in a spaced and parallel opposing relationship between the bases of the stiles. The top rail is disposed in one of the open ends of each of the stiles and the bottom rail is disposed in the other open ends of each of the stiles. Each of the rails define a glue manifold for distributing an adhesive onto the rails and into the channels for securing the rails to the stiles.