Guide Profile Edge Part Conceals Mounting Hardware

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screen systems for windows are aesthetically inelegant due to visible and thick guide profiles, which occupy significant space and detract from the appearance of the window.

Innovation Solution

The screen system features guide profiles with an edge part that maintains a distance from the wall, allowing for concealed additional aesthetic or functional elements, such as light sources, and forms a continuous frame around the window, creating a floating impression by hiding the attaching parts from view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If guide profiles are attached directly against the wall to support the screen system, then the screen system is structurally stable and functional, but the guide profiles become clearly visible and occupy significant space, creating an aesthetically inelegant appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The guide profile is designed with an L-shaped cross-section where the first leg attaches to the wall and the second leg extends laterally to support the screen. This dimensional transformation allows the attaching part to be positioned in a different spatial plane (against the wall) while the visible edge part projects forward, creating a floating effect that improves aesthetics while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the guide profile is made thicker to incorporate guide tracks and structural components, then the screen system gains necessary functionality and durability, but the profile becomes more conspicuous and takes up more space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional durabilityVSAvoidspace occupied by profile
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide profile is segmented into distinct functional zones: an attaching part with the guide track for structural support, and an edge part that extends laterally to conceal the attaching part. This segmentation allows the functional components to be compactly arranged while the edge part provides aesthetic coverage, reducing the overall visual bulk while maintaining durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If the attaching part is made prominent to ensure secure mounting, then the screen system is firmly fixed to the wall, but the attaching part becomes visible and detracts from the aesthetic appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting strengthVSAvoidvisual appeal
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The edge part acts as an intermediary element that extends laterally from the attaching part to conceal it from view. This intermediary structure allows the attaching part to maintain its mounting strength against the wall while the edge part provides aesthetic coverage, effectively mediating between structural requirements and visual appeal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Shape

If the guide profile is designed to be thin and minimal, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the profile lacks sufficient space to incorporate guide tracks and other functional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidfunctional component integration
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide track and other functional components are nested within the attaching part of the L-shaped profile, which attaches to the wall. The edge part then extends over these nested components to conceal them. This nesting approach allows functional complexity to be contained within a compact volume while maintaining a clean, minimal aesthetic appearance from the viewing side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

This design enhances the aesthetic appeal by creating a stylish, space-efficient screen system that appears to float separately from the wall, diverting attention from the profiles and improving the overall visual impression.

Implementation Method 1

At least one of the profiles is thus provided with a light source which, when the screen system is applied, is provided in a space between the wall and the edge part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3038847B1Screen system and guide profile
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 POLYPLASTIC GROUP
  • EP3038847B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3038847B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A screen system (1) for positioning a screen (2), in particular a screen blind, for a window in a wall (60) comprises adjusting means for adjusting the screen longitudinally between a position leaving the window clear and a position at least substantially wholly screening the window. The screen system comprises on either side of the screen a guide profile (30) which comprises on a side facing toward the wall an attaching part (31) for an attachment against the wall and which comprises on an opposite side a guide track through which the screen (2) is longitudinally guidable for adjustment thereof. The guide profile comprises on the opposite side an edge part (33) extending laterally relative to the attaching part (31) from a remaining profile part.