Minimal Mullion Façade Assembly with Fin Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for installing doors and windows using metal fasteners result in poor thermal performance and a bulky appearance due to the need for conductive materials to travel through the glass panels, creating a large space between them.

Innovation Solution

A curtain wall assembly that attaches adjacent glass panels using attachment members with fins, eliminating the need for metal fasteners between the panels and improving thermal performance by securing these members to a frame without conductive materials between the panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metal fasteners are used to attach glass panels, then structural strength is improved, but thermal performance deteriorates due to conductive materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidthermal performance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes metal fasteners and conductive materials from the space between glass panels. Instead, it uses a grommet system with thermal breaks that extracts the harmful thermal conduction path while maintaining the structural attachment function through non-conductive materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a grommet as an intermediary component between the glass panels and attachment members. This grommet system provides both mechanical attachment and thermal insulation, acting as a mediator that resolves the conflict between structural strength and thermal performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If metal fasteners are used to attach glass panels, then structural strength is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to bulky front view section

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the bulky metal fasteners from the visible front view section. By extracting these large conductive materials and replacing them with a streamlined grommet system, the design achieves both structural strength and improved aesthetic appearance with a narrower front view section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If conductive materials are used between glass panels, then structural attachment is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural attachmentVSAvoidthermal insulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful thermal conduction property of metal fasteners into a benefit by using thermal break technology. The grommet system is designed to intentionally create thermal discontinuity, turning what would be a direct heat path into a series of thermal barriers while maintaining structural attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11795687B2Minimal mullion faÇade assembly

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 GOLDBRECHT LLC

AI summary

Provided is a curtain wall assembly including a first panel, and a second panel that is adjacent to the first panel. The curtain wall assembly includes a first attachment member attached to the first panel, and a second attachment member attached to the second panel. Each of the first attachment member and the second attachment member include at least one fin, and the first attachment member is secured to the second attachment member at the fin.