Sound-Absorbing Panel Assembly with Hidden Screw Cavities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sound-absorbing panel assembly systems are aesthetically damaging, require adhesives, are not versatile, necessitate pre-drilling, and are difficult to maintain due to visible caps and non-reversible attachment.

Innovation Solution

A process involving a movable panel portion with a hinge line, allowing the screw to be inserted into a hidden cavity without pre-drilling, preserving the panel's aesthetic and enabling easy detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If mechanical anchoring systems with visible caps are used to secure rigid panels, then stability and prevention of panel falling is improved, but aesthetic value is damaged due to visible caps and holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel stabilityVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the fastening mechanism from the visible surface by using a blind cavity system. The screw is hidden within a cavity formed by folding back a portion of the panel itself, eliminating the need for external caps and visible holes, thus preserving aesthetic appearance while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening system is nested within the panel structure itself. The blind cavity is formed by folding back a portion of the panel, creating a nested structure where the screw is housed within the panel's own material, eliminating external fastening elements that would compromise aesthetics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If adhesive compounds are used to secure caps inside holes, then cap attachment to panel is improved, but accessibility to screw for detachment is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecap attachment strengthVSAvoidpanel detachability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the adhesive dependency entirely. The panel portion is folded back to create a blind cavity that mechanically holds the screw without requiring adhesive compounds, thus maintaining both attachment strength and future detachability through simple screw removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The panel structure itself serves the dual function of both attachment and future detachment. The folded-back portion creates a mechanical hold that is as easy to install as it is to remove later, eliminating the need for adhesives that would permanently lock the screw in place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If pre-drilling holes in panels is performed to house screws, then screw positioning is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and versatility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew positioning accuracyVSAvoidpanel manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the panel into functional portions: a main body and a folded-back portion that forms the blind cavity. This segmentation allows the screw to be positioned accurately without pre-drilling, as the cavity structure guides the screw placement while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of pre-drilling holes and then forming caps to cover them, the invention inverts the approach by forming a blind cavity through folding back panel material, which then naturally houses the screw. This eliminates the need for pre-drilling and external caps, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Shape

If caps are customized to match panel graphic patterns, then aesthetic value is improved, but device complexity and risk of loss/damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic matchingVSAvoidcap assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the cap component entirely. By using a blind cavity formed from the panel material itself, there are no separate caps to customize, attach, or protect. This eliminates the complexity of cap assembly while maintaining aesthetic integrity through the clean, hidden fastening system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening function is merged with the panel structure itself through the folded-back portion that forms the blind cavity. This integration eliminates the need for separate caps and their associated customization, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining aesthetic value through the seamless integration of form and function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4640968A1Process for assembling sound-absorbing panels and sound-absorbing panel
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 IMPACT ACOUSTIC AG
  • EP4640968A1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP4640968A1 patent drawingFigure 6
  • EP4640968A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Process for assembling sound-absorbing panels (1), comprising the steps of arranging at least one sound-absorbing panel (1) at a wall to be soundproofed (A), the panel (1) having a contact surface (2) contacting the wall (A) and an externally visible surface (3) opposite said contact surface (2); cutting the visible outer surface (3) to define at least one portion (4) of the panel (1) movable in relation to the rest of the panel (1); moving the portion (4) away from the panel (1) by defining a blind cavity (5) formed in the outer surface (3); inserting a screw (6) inside said cavity (5) to pierce the contact surface (2) until the screw (6) is inserted into the wall (A); and then moving the portion (4) closer to the panel (1) to insert the portion (4) itself inside the cavity (5).