Offset Cellular Shade Assembly for Stronger Closed-Cell Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular shades lack sufficient strength and aesthetic versatility, particularly in their construction methods and materials, which restricts their ability to provide both improved insulation and customizable light transmission.
Innovation Solution
The development of cellular shades with closed cell structures featuring a front face and back face in an offset relationship, allowing for different materials and opacities to be used, which enhances strength and aesthetic appeal while enabling adjustable light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If individual cells are constructed using traditional techniques (pleating and gluing sheets), then the shade can be manufactured, but the strength and attachment strength between adjacent cells are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cellular shade is divided into separate front face and back face components that are assembled together. Each cell structure consists of a front face piece and a back face piece that are separately manufactured and then joined, allowing for improved strength characteristics while maintaining manufacturability through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction by combining different fabric pieces (front face and back face) to form complete cell structures. This allows selection of materials with optimal properties for each face, improving overall strength and performance while enabling customized material combinations
2Adaptability or versatility
If the front face and back face are made from the same material, then the construction is simple, but the aesthetic versatility and customizable light transmission are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The front face and back face are segmented as separate components, allowing independent selection of materials for each face. This enables different fabrics, opacities, and aesthetic qualities to be combined, providing customization options for light transmission and appearance while maintaining a manageable construction process
Solution Approach 2:
Different materials and properties are assigned to different locations (front face vs. back face) based on functional requirements. The front face can use materials optimized for aesthetic appearance and light transmission, while the back face can use materials optimized for structural support and insulation, creating local quality differentiation
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable and contractable shade assembly includes a plurality of closed cell structures aligned vertically one above another with juncture lines defined between adjacent structures. Each closed cell structure includes a front face and a separate back face. The front face and the back face are offset from one another in relation to a vertical axis. In one embodiment, for instance, the front face of a higher cell is connected to both the front face and back face of a lower cell, while the back face of the higher cell is only connected to the back face of the lower cell. In an alternative embodiment, the front face of a higher cell is only connected to the front face of a lower cell, while the back face of the higher cell is connected to both the front face and the back face of the lower cell. The above configuration can increase strength and dimensional stability of the interconnected cells.