Outdoor Slat Wall Panel Structure for Weather-Resistant Cladding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interior slat wall panels deteriorate quickly when exposed to outdoor weather conditions and are insufficiently resistant to harsh weather and external forces, making maintenance and decoration inconvenient and costly.

Innovation Solution

An outdoor slat wall panel design featuring corrugated metal or wooden slats arranged on a corrugated support plate with ridges and grooves, allowing for secure attachment without visible holes, using adhesives or fasteners that resist weathering and enable easy decoration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If interior slat wall panels are used for exterior surfaces, then installation simplicity and aesthetic appearance are improved, but durability and resistance to weather conditions deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining wood slats with metal fastening elements and adhesive compositions. The wood slats provide aesthetic appearance while the metal elements and adhesives provide durability and weather resistance, creating a composite structure that resolves the contradiction between simplicity and durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters of the slat wall panel by treating wood slats with protective coatings and using weather-resistant adhesives. These parameter changes enhance the durability and weather resistance while maintaining the aesthetic appearance and installation simplicity of the original design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If traditional fastening methods (screws, nails, glue) are used, then secure attachment is improved, but surface damage and aesthetic appearance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidsurface damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the visible fastening elements from the front surface of the slat wall panel. Fastening holes are positioned on the rear surface only, removing the harmful visual effect of surface damage while maintaining secure attachment through rear-surface fastening and adhesive bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests multiple fastening methods within the slat wall panel structure. Adhesive composition is applied to the rear surface, and metal fastening elements are embedded within the wood slats or support structure, creating a nested fastening system that secures the panel without visible surface damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Shape

If interior slat wall panels are exposed to outdoor conditions, then initial aesthetic appearance is improved, but maintenance cost and convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidmaintenance convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the slat wall panel into individual removable slats that can be independently maintained or replaced. Each slat is a separate component fastened to a support structure, allowing damaged slats to be removed and replaced without affecting the entire panel, thus improving maintenance convenience while preserving aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies protective treatments to wood slats before installation, such as weather-resistant coatings and sealants. This preliminary action prevents weathering and damage, reducing future maintenance needs while preserving the aesthetic appearance of the slat wall panel in outdoor conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4581220B1An outdoor slat wall panel and a method of manufacture
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 PVH OUTDOOR AS
  • EP4581220B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4581220B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4581220B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An outdoor slat wall panel for being mounted on an exterior surface of a building or construction so that the outdoor slat wall panel may form the final exterior surface of the building or construction. The slat wall panel comprises at least a first and a second slat and a support plate, the first and second slats being arranged on an outer surface of the support plate so that outer surfaces of the first and second slats face the environment when the wall panel is mounted on the building, wherein the support plate is a corrugated plate comprising ridges separated by grooves, said slats, ridges, and grooves extending in a longitudinal direction of the support plate, wherein a first of said corrugations comprises a first of said ridges, and a second of said corrugations comprises a second of said ridges, said first and second ridges being separated by one of said grooves.