Multi-Layered Glass Fitting With Airtight Gap-Sealing Sashes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-layered glass fittings face issues such as gaps allowing communication between interior and exterior, inability to open FIX panels, need for a cover member to close groove portions, and large dimensions in vertical direction due to perpendicular drive shafts, which affect watertightness, viewability, and compactness.

Innovation Solution

A fitting with a frame assembly and two sashes that can move in different directions, including airtight members and a drive unit, allowing the sashes to overlap and close gaps, ensuring viewability and compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multi-layered glasses are aligned to form a fitting, then the fitting structure is formed, but gaps may be formed between adjacent glasses allowing communication between interior and exterior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewatertightness and airtightnessVSAvoidgap formation allowing light leakage and communication
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Aitight members are introduced as intermediary sealing elements between adjacent multi-layered glasses and between sashes and frame assembly. These airtight members prevent gap formation and ensure watertightness and airtightness while allowing the glass panels to maintain their aligned structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If FIX panels are used in the ribbon window, then viewability is improved, but the panels cannot be opened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveviewabilityVSAvoidopening and closing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static FIX panels into dynamic movable sashes that can slide within the frame assembly. The sashes are configured to be movable in the front-face direction, allowing them to open and close while maintaining the ribbon window aesthetic and viewability characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a sash is moved within the frame assembly in the interior-exterior direction, then opening and closing is enabled, but a groove portion is formed in the frame assembly that needs to be closed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesash movabilityVSAvoidframe assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Aitight members are positioned in groove portions of the frame assembly to seal the spaces created when sashes move in the interior-exterior direction. This allows the sashes to be movable while the airtight members prevent formation of harmful gaps and maintain the sealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the drive shaft is driven in the vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lower frame component, then the raising-lowering device functions, but the lower frame component tends to have a large dimension in the vertical direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveraising-lowering functionVSAvoidvertical dimension of lower frame component
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reorients the drive shaft from a vertical arrangement to a horizontal arrangement that extends in the front-back direction. This dimensional change allows the raising-lowering function to be achieved while reducing the vertical dimension of the lower frame component, creating a more compact structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3845735B1Multi-layered glass and fitting provided therewith
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 LIXIL CORP
  • EP3845735B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3845735B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3845735B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a multi-layered glass and a fitting, which are configured so as to prevent formation of a gap connecting the inside of a room to the outside thereof. Multi-layered glasses 310, 320 are provided with first glasses 311, 323, second glasses 313, 321, and reinforcement materials 316, 325 disposed between the first glasses 311, 323 and the second glasses 313, 321, respectively, wherein: at least at one respective ends of the multi-layered glasses, one respective ends of the second glasses 313, 321 have protruding parts 313b, 321b that protrude toward a planar-direction outer side of the glass surfaces of the second glasses 313, 321 beyond end surfaces 311a, 323a of the first glasses 311, 323; and shielding parts 316a, 325a are provided to portions, of the multi-layered glasses 310, 320, each corresponding at least to an interior-side glass surface or an exterior-side glass surface of the protruding part 313b, 321b.