Groove Profile for Balcony Cladding Drainage and Railing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing balcony drainage systems are complex to assemble and often result in uncontrolled water flow due to the necessary arrangement of multiple functional units, lacking a simple and flexible solution for both water drainage and secure railing attachment.

Innovation Solution

A groove profile with a C-groove design that serves as both a channel construction for water drainage and a flexible attachment option for balcony or terrace railings, allowing various consoles to be easily attached and positioned, incorporating a channel profile that can be screwed, swiveled, or pushed into place, providing controlled water drainage and versatile railing configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple functional units are arranged to achieve both drainage and railing attachment, then the functionality is improved, but the assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the drainage channel function and the railing attachment function into a single integrated groove profile. The C-shaped groove serves dual purposes: it channels water drainage while providing attachment points for railing consoles, eliminating the need for separate functional units and simplifying assembly to a single component installation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove profile is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as both a drainage channel and a mounting structure for various railing configurations. This multi-functional design allows the same profile to support different railing types and console arrangements without requiring additional specialized components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple functional units are arranged to achieve both drainage and railing attachment, then the functionality is improved, but the water flow control becomes uncontrolled

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidwater flow control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the drainage channel and attachment structure into one integrated profile, the patent ensures that the drainage pathway remains continuous and unobstructed. The C-shaped groove maintains its water channeling capability while accommodating railing attachments, preventing the water flow control issues that arise from assembling multiple separate units with potential misalignments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple groove profile design is used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the versatility for different railing configurations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesimplicityVSAvoidrailing configuration flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The simple C-shaped groove profile achieves universality by providing a standardized attachment interface that can accommodate various railing types and console configurations. The groove's geometry allows different console designs to be mounted on the same profile, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enabling versatile railing arrangements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove profile enables dynamic configuration options for railings through the flexible placement of consoles along the groove. Different console positions, orientations, and types can be installed on the same simple profile, allowing the system to adapt to various design requirements without changing the basic groove structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4230819A1Groove profile
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 BANGRATZ RENE
  • EP4230819A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4230819A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4230819A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

1. A groove profile (100) is proposed for the arrangement of posts (26) for balcony and terrace cladding, wherein the groove profile (100) is formed in one piece and has a groove profile (10) and a channel profile (12).