Nautical Window Frame with Staggered Micro-Openings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Nautical window perimetrical frames fail to prevent water stagnation and humidity, leading to bad smells and frequent maintenance needs, which are physically demanding and provide only temporary relief.
Innovation Solution
The perimetrical frame features through micro-openings in laminar gaskets and staggered holes in the shaped element, creating a tortuous labyrinth that allows air passage while preventing water entry, with a second laminar gasket acting as a barrier to water propagation and evaporation, reducing moisture and mist formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the perimetrical frame uses a closed frame-like shape with sealing means to prevent water entry, then sealing performance is improved, but water stagnation and humidity occur inside the compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous or perforated sealing means (laminar gaskets with micro-openings) that allow vapor and air passage while blocking liquid water. The gaskets contain numerous small holes that create a tortuous path for water droplets, enabling moisture evaporation and ventilation while maintaining water tightness, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing and preventing water stagnation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing means are segmented into multiple laminar gaskets with distributed micro-openings rather than a continuous solid structure. This segmentation creates multiple pathways for air flow while maintaining water barrier functionality, allowing the compartment to ventilate and dry while remaining sealed against rain and waves.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the perimetrical frame uses traditional sealing means to prevent water entry, then water protection is improved, but bad smells and mist formation occur due to poor ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The laminar gaskets are designed as porous materials with controlled micro-openings that selectively allow gas molecules (air, vapor, odor-carrying molecules) to pass through while blocking liquid water droplets. This enables continuous ventilation to prevent bad smells and mist formation while maintaining water protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro-openings in the gaskets act as intermediaries that mediate between the need for ventilation (to remove bad smells and mist) and the need for water protection. The tortuous path created by the micro-openings allows air exchange while the surface tension and geometry of the openings prevent water penetration.
3Reliability
If the perimetrical frame uses a closed sealing structure to prevent water entry, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but maintenance frequency increases due to moisture accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The compartment equipped with porous sealing means performs self-ventilation and self-drying through the micro-openings in the gaskets. Moisture that enters the compartment can evaporate and escape through the same sealing means, eliminating the need for manual intervention to prevent mold and degradation, thus reducing maintenance frequency while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
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
Significantly reduces water stagnation, bad smells, and maintenance frequency, minimizing physical effort required to maintain the window in a functional state, while ensuring effective sealing and ventilation.
Implementation Method 1
through micro-openings made in the laminar gaskets of the sealing means, through holes made in the inner wall and outer wall of the shaped element, with which the through micro-openings communicate, as well as to the tortuous labyrinth for air created by the plurality of these through micro-openings and through holes
Implementation Method 2
a second laminar gasket acting as a barrier to water propagation and evaporation, reducing moisture and mist formation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5a
Figure 6
AI summary
A perimetrical frame (1) for delimiting compartments, especially for nautical applications, comprising a shaped element (2) suitable to be fixed to a reference structure at the compartment and to support a finishing slab (3) made of transparent material, and sealing means (4), contained into an inner groove (5) made in shaped element (2). In particular, the sealing means (4) comprise a first laminar gasket (6) having a plurality of first through micro-openings (7) and communicating with the outside through a plurality of first through holes (8) made in the inner wall (2a) of the element shaped (2), and a second laminar gasket (9), facing to and spaced apart from the first gasket (6), having a plurality of second through micro-openings (10), staggered with respect to the first through micro-openings (7), and communicating with the outside through a plurality of second through holes (11) made in the outer wall (2b) of the shaped element (2), wherein the first through micro-openings (7) and the second through micro-openings (10) are mutually staggered in such a way as to create a tortuous labyrinth (L) that allows the passage of air and prevents the passage of water.