Museum display case with glass side walls and an upper door that is slidingly openable by means of guides arranged inside the side glass walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing museum display cases with glass walls and openable doors suffer from visible mechanical mechanisms that detract from the visibility of the displayed objects, necessitating the use of non-transparent materials or complex bell-shaped designs for opening.
Innovation Solution
A museum display case with sliding glass doors and integrated linear guides that are minimally visible, using rolling rollers and coupling means to ensure smooth operation and prevent unauthorized access, allowing for nearly invisible opening mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If metal mechanisms (hinges, guides, slides) are used to allow opening and closing of glass doors, then the display case can be opened and closed, but the mechanisms have a non-negligible visual impact that detracts from visibility of displayed objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the visual impact of the opening mechanism by applying the guides on the inner face of the glass wall rather than on outer visible surfaces. This relocation removes the distracting visual element from the observer's field of view while preserving the functional opening mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using guides with dimensions corresponding to the thickness of the glass wall, making them coplanar with the glass surface. This intermediary positioning allows the mechanism to function while appearing as a minimal extension of the glass itself, reducing visual distraction.
2Ease of operation
If guides are applied on the outer face of glass walls, then the opening mechanism is accessible, but the guides create visible distractions that reduce visibility of displayed objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guides from the outer visible surface and relocates them to the inner face of the glass wall. This extraction removes the visual distraction while maintaining operational accessibility, as the guides remain functional for opening the door.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the guide positioning from a two-dimensional outer surface to a three-dimensional integration within the glass thickness. By positioning guides on the inner face with dimensions matching glass thickness, the mechanism moves to a less visually prominent dimension.
3Illumination intensity
If bell-shaped design with integral glass walls is used, then no metal mechanisms are needed for opening, but the display case is only suitable for small sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display case into a fixed case and an openable door that can slide relative to each other. This segmentation allows the display case to be opened without raising the entire structure, enabling larger sizes while maintaining the glass-only aesthetic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the bell-shaped raising mechanism with a sliding door mechanism using guides. This replacement allows for larger display cases while maintaining minimal visual impact, as the sliding mechanism can be positioned on the inner face rather than requiring external metal structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced visibility by minimizing the visibility of the opening mechanism, ensuring smooth operation, and maintaining a secure, controlled environment for displayed objects.
Implementation Method 1
the linear sliding guides comprise rolling rollers
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The museum display case comprises a fixed case (12) formed by fixed glass walls (13) surmounted by an upper openable glass door (23) which is slidingly openable with respect to the fixed case (12). The fixed glass walls (13) and the openable glass door (23) have - with respect to the display case - respective inner faces (14, 24) and outer faces (15, 25) connected by peripheral edges (16, 26). The museum display case comprises two linear sliding guides (30) between the openable glass door (23) and the fixed case (12); the linear sliding guides (30) are applied, on one side, on the inner face (24) of the openable glass door (23) near the opposite peripheral edges (26) of the openable glass door (23), on the other side, on the peripheral edge (16) of two opposite fixed glass walls (13). The linear sliding guides (30) have dimensions corresponding to the thickness of the fixed glass wall (13) to which they are applied.