Lateral Guide for Roller Blind Tolerance Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shading roller blind systems for motor vehicles face challenges in easy installation due to manufacturing tolerances, requiring a solution that allows for tolerance compensation and flexible alignment between guide rails and connecting pieces.

Innovation Solution

A lateral guide system featuring plug-in means with a degree of freedom in the axial direction, allowing for arc movement and tolerance compensation, along with a tongue-and-groove or toothed connection to prevent rotation and ensure secure coupling, and a latching mechanism for stable positioning, coupled with a drive device for automatic operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid plug-in connection is used between guide rail and connecting piece, then the connection is stable and precise, but it cannot accommodate manufacturing tolerances and alignment variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidtolerance compensation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The plug-in connection is designed with a degree of freedom in the axial direction, allowing the connecting piece to move relative to the guide rail during assembly. This dynamic capability enables the connection to automatically adjust and compensate for manufacturing tolerances while maintaining stable operation during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows for positional adjustments in the axial direction during the assembly phase, changing the relative position parameters between the guide rail and connecting piece to achieve optimal alignment and compensate for tolerance variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the plug-in connection allows movement in the axial direction for tolerance compensation, then assembly is easier and tolerances are compensated, but the connection may become unstable or decouple during use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system separates the assembly phase from the operational phase. During assembly, the connecting piece can move freely in the axial direction to accommodate tolerances. Once assembled, the latching mechanism engages to lock the position, preventing movement during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The degree of freedom in the axial direction is provided as a preliminary capability during assembly to enable easy connection and tolerance compensation. The latching mechanism then performs a preliminary locking action to secure the connection before operational forces are applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If a tongue-and-groove connection is used to prevent rotation, then rotational stability is improved, but the complexity of the plug-in means increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational stabilityVSAvoidconnection structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tongue-and-groove features are implemented locally at the interface between the guide rail and connecting piece, providing rotational stability only where needed for the plug-in connection, while the rest of the system maintains its simpler design with guide grooves for linear movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2014493B1Lateral guide for a roller blind and roller blind for motor vehicles
Publication Date: 2011.12.14 BOS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2014493B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2014493B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2014493B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a side guide for a shading roller blind comprising at least one guide rail (14, 14') with a first plug-in element and a connecting piece (80, 80') with a second plug-in element (801) which is complementary to the first plug-in element and can be coupled to it, wherein the coupled plug-in elements (801) are slidable relative to each other to compensate for tolerances. The invention further relates to a shading roller blind with an extension profile that is guided in a side guide.