Double-Walled Polymer Connector Brackets for Roof Window Frames

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Solution Overview

Problem

The stability of existing insulating frames for roof windows is insufficient, and there is a need to reduce production costs while maintaining thermal insulation efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A supporting frame with double-walled, polymer connector brackets that interconnect supporting rails perpendicularly or in longitudinal continuation, providing increased rigidity and acting as a female connector to allow for material savings and simpler production processes, while maintaining thermal insulation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If connector brackets are made from solid polymer structure, then production cost is reduced, but rigidity and stability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverigidityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector bracket employs a double-walled hollow structure with polymer material, creating an internal cavity that reduces material consumption and production cost while maintaining structural rigidity through the distributed wall configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The connector bracket combines polymer material with a double-walled structural configuration, creating a composite system where the hollow geometry enhances rigidity relative to solid material usage, achieving both cost reduction and mechanical performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If connector brackets are made with complex structure to increase rigidity, then stability is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The double-walled hollow structure provides enhanced stability through geometric configuration rather than material complexity, using the cavity space to distribute stresses and improve rigidity without requiring complex external geometries or additional components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The double-walled structure utilizes the third dimension by creating an internal cavity, transforming a potentially complex surface geometry into a simpler volumetric configuration that achieves rigidity through spatial distribution rather than surface complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If supporting rails are made with complex cross-sectional shape to accommodate connector brackets, then connection stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the supporting rail complex to accommodate the connector bracket, the invention inverts the approach by making the connector bracket complex (double-walled hollow structure) to accommodate a simple rail cross-section, thereby simplifying rail manufacturing while achieving stable connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The complex structural features are extracted from the supporting rail and concentrated in the connector bracket, allowing the rail to maintain a simple cross-sectional shape for easy manufacturing while the bracket provides the necessary connection stability through its double-walled hollow configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 enhances the stability and reduces production costs of the insulating frame by increasing the rigidity of connector brackets without increasing thermal conductivity, allowing for easier assembly and disassembly, and simplifying the production process.

Implementation Method 1

each of the connector brackets being double-walled with a hollow cross-section at the connecting sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHollow structure:

Implementation Method 2

without increasing the thermal conductivity of the insulating frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3533947B1A supporting frame for an insulating frame for a roof window and a method of assembling a supporting frame
Publication Date: 2022.01.26 VKR HOLDING AS
  • EP3533947B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3533947B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3533947B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A supporting frame for an insulating frame for a roof window, said supporting frame comprising top, bottom and side supporting rails, where one or more supporting rails are configured to carry insulating elements, each supporting rail comprising one or more rail connecting sections. The supporting frame further comprises a plurality of connector brackets, each of said connector brackets comprising two bracket connecting sections each connected to a rail connecting section of a supporting rail. Each of said connector brackets detachably interconnects two supporting rails so that the respective supporting rails are perpendicular to each other or interconnects two supporting rails in longitudinal continuation of each other. Each of the connector brackets is double-walled with a hollow cross-section at the connecting sections, the hollow cross-section accommodating the rail connecting section, and where the connector bracket is made from a polymer. The invention further relates to a method of assembling a supporting frame for an insulating frame for roof window.