Museum Showcase Layered Glass Wall with Nested Opaque Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Museum showcases with transparent walls face challenges in achieving opaque shielding without emitting harmful volatile substances, which can damage delicate items, and without altering the external aesthetic appearance.

Innovation Solution

A layered transparent wall structure using two glass slabs coupled with a transparent adhesive polymer, where opaque shielding is applied to one slab, keeping it contained within the glass structure and preventing substance emissions, while maintaining the external appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If opaque shielding is applied to the inner face of the transparent wall using paint, then the desired shape, size, and color are easily achieved, but harmful volatile substances are emitted into the display space that can damage delicate items

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of applying opaque shieldingVSAvoidemission of volatile substances
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The opaque shielding layer is nested between two glass slabs, with the paint applied to the inner face of the first glass slab and enclosed by the second glass slab. This nesting structure prevents volatile substance emission while maintaining the aesthetic and functional properties of the paint application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent adhesive polymer acts as an intermediary between the painted glass slab and the outer glass slab, creating a sealed environment that traps volatile substances while maintaining the structural integrity and optical properties of the wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If opaque shielding is applied to the outer face of the transparent wall, then harmful substance emission is prevented, but the external aesthetic appearance of the showcase is altered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission of volatile substancesVSAvoidexternal aesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The opaque shielding is nested within the layered glass structure, specifically on the inner face of the first glass slab, making it invisible from the outside while effectively preventing volatile substance emission. This resolves the contradiction by hiding the shielding within the structure rather than applying it to the outer surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If a single opaque wall is used to close the technical space, then security and control systems are protected, but visibility of displayed items is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of technical spaceVSAvoidvisibility of displayed items
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The wall is divided into different zones with different optical properties: the upper portion containing technical equipment uses opaque shielding for protection, while the lower portion displaying items maintains transparency for visibility. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between security and visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The wall is segmented into multiple functional zones - an upper opaque zone for technical equipment and a lower transparent zone for item display - allowing each segment to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3725188B1Museum showcase having a transparent wall provided with an opaque shielding
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 GOPPION SPA
  • EP3725188B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3725188B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3725188B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

Museum showcase with a case containing a separate exhibition space with respect to the external environment. The case includes at least one transparent wall provided with an opaque shielding. The transparent wall is layered and includes at least two glass slabs coupled to each other along respective proximal faces. The opaque shielding is applied to one of the two glass slabs, on the proximal face thereof. The opaque shielding is therefore completely contained between the two glass slabs.