Hem Bar with Movable Weather Strip for Uneven Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Architectural-structure coverings with hem bars face issues when encountering uneven surfaces, leading to gaps that allow insects to intrude and affect the appearance and functionality of the system, as traditional hem bars cannot conform to non-level surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An improved hem bar design featuring a symmetrically weighted structure with a movably positioned and downwardly biased weather strip that adjusts to uneven surfaces, maintaining constant tension on the covering and ensuring a tight seal without resting on the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a level hem bar is used, then the hem bar can travel between side tracks and maintain structural integrity, but it creates gaps when contacting uneven surfaces, allowing insects to intrude and compromising the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The hem bar is divided into a rigid body portion and a separate movable weather strip portion. This segmentation allows the rigid body to maintain structural integrity and travel between side tracks, while the flexible weather strip can independently conform to uneven surfaces to eliminate gaps and prevent insect intrusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The weather strip is made movable relative to the hem bar body through a slot and biasing mechanism. This dynamic configuration allows the weather strip to adjust its position and orientation in response to uneven contacting surfaces, maintaining effective sealing without requiring the entire hem bar structure to be flexible or complex.
2Reliability
If the weather strip is made movable and downwardly biased, then it can conform to uneven surfaces and maintain constant tension on the covering, but this increases the complexity of the hem bar mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The weather strip utilizes a biasing mechanism (such as a spring) that automatically applies downward force to maintain contact with the contacting surface. This self-service mechanism ensures constant tension on the covering and adaptive sealing without requiring external control systems or complex actuation mechanisms, achieving reliable sealing with minimal added complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the hem bar is designed to be symmetrically weighted, then it maintains constant tension on the covering and operates smoothly, but it cannot adapt to uneven contacting surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The symmetrically weighted hem bar body provides smooth operation and constant tension, while the segmented, movable weather strip portion attached to it provides adaptability to uneven surfaces. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The static, symmetrically weighted hem bar body ensures smooth operation and constant tension, while the dynamic, movable weather strip portion adapts to surface irregularities. This combination of static and dynamic elements resolves the contradiction between operational smoothness and surface adaptability.
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 solution effectively seals uneven surfaces, maintains constant tension on the architectural-structure covering, and prevents insects from entering, while maintaining a smooth appearance and proper operation of the system.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member, such as a spring, for biasing the weather strip in a downward direction
Data Source
AI summary
A hem bar for use with an architectural-structure covering such as, for example, a rollable screen (e.g., an outdoor insect screen, a solar screen, a hurricane screen, a privacy and security screen, etc.). The hem bar includes a weather strip for contacting or resting on a contacting surface when the covering is in a fully extended position. The weather strip is vertically, movably positioned relative to the hem bar. Additionally, the weather strip may be downwardly biased relative to the hem bar. The hem bar may also include a plurality of weight-receiving chambers for receiving, for example, a weighted rod, a weighted bar, or the like to assist in maintaining the covering in a taut condition (e.g., assists with maintaining constant tension on the covering) in the extended position. The hem bar may have a symmetrical design to eliminate any tilting or rocking motion.