Improved systems and methods for translucent artificial foliage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing artificial decorative trees and accessories lack novel and appealing designs, with most using opaque or fiber-optic materials that do not offer the desired aesthetic variations.

Innovation Solution

The development of translucent artificial foliage made from a polymer-based material incorporating anti-UV additives (0.1-0.9%) and phosphorus fire-retardant additives (0.5-3%), allowing for the creation of aesthetically unique and environmentally friendly decorative products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If opaque or fiber-optic materials are used for artificial foliage, then the structural integrity and traditional decorative styles are maintained, but the aesthetic variety and novel designs are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic varietyVSAvoidmaterial consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining polymer base material with translucent additives to create foliage that maintains structural integrity while achieving novel translucent aesthetic effects. This composite approach allows the material to exhibit both mechanical strength and optical transparency properties simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the foliage material by incorporating translucent additives into the polymer composition. This parameter change transforms the material from opaque to translucent, enabling new aesthetic styles while maintaining the fundamental material structure and manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traditional opaque materials are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but environmental friendliness and flammability resistance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflammability resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the polymer material by incorporating fire-retardant additives. This changes the material's flammability characteristics without fundamentally altering the manufacturing process, maintaining ease of production while improving safety properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and addresses the harmful flammability property by adding specific fire-retardant components to the polymer formulation. This targeted addition improves environmental safety and flammability resistance while keeping the base manufacturing process simple and unchanged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Illumination intensity

If translucent materials are used to create novel aesthetics, then aesthetic appeal and light transmission are improved, but material strength and durability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidmaterial strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials combining polymer matrix with translucent additives to achieve both light transmission and mechanical strength. The composite structure allows the material to transmit light effectively while maintaining sufficient strength for decorative applications through the synergistic combination of material components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the translucent properties in specific regions or aspects of the material while maintaining structural integrity in other areas. This allows different parts of the foliage to have optimized properties - translucent for aesthetic surfaces and stronger for structural components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4284218B1Improved systems and methods for translucent artificial foliage
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 BELGRAVIA WOOD LTD
  • EP4284218B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4284218B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4284218B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Translucent artificial foliage and methods of manufacturing the same. Exemplary translucent artificial foliage includes an artificial foliage material. An exemplary translucent artificial foliage material includes a polymer, an anti-UV additive component, and a phosphorus fire-retardant additive component. Exemplary translucent artificial foliage includes lighting elements internal to the artificial foliage material. An exemplary method of manufacturing the artificial foliage material includes mixing a translucent artificial foliage material by combining a polymer with an anti-UV additive component and a phosphorus fire-retardant additive. The exemplary method includes inserting a wire into a mold, heating the translucent artificial foliage material, adding the translucent artificial foliage material to the mold, and cooling the mold.