Releasable Top Rail for Screening Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screening arrangements for apertures do not allow easy modification of the top rail's appearance at the installation site, limiting customer flexibility and requiring replacement of the entire arrangement for aesthetic changes.

Innovation Solution

A screening arrangement with a releasable T-shaped flange connection between the top rail and cover, enabling adjustable positioning and easy replacement of the top rail without impairing its function, allowing for different materials and snap-fit or sliding engagement, and separate reception means for angular brackets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the top rail and cover are made integral in one piece, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the ease of operation for replacing the top rail deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidease of replacing top rail
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the top element into separate components: a cover and a top rail that can be detached from each other. The top rail is further segmented into a body portion and end pieces. This segmentation allows the top rail to be replaced independently while maintaining structural integrity during use, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dynamic connection system between the top rail and cover through reception means that allow the top rail to be inserted and removed. This dynamic capability enables the structure to transition from a fixed integral state to a separable state, allowing easy replacement while maintaining structural strength when assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If the top rail is made from a metal material, then the strength and suitability for receiving angular brackets are improved, but the weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength for receiving angular bracketsVSAvoidweight of top rail
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that the top rail is made from metal material with particular properties - lightweight metal such as aluminium - changing the material parameters to achieve both strength and low weight. This parameter optimization allows the top rail to be strong enough for receiving angular brackets while minimizing weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the top rail position is fixed relative to the cover, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the adaptability for compensating frame irregularities deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability for compensating frame irregularities
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces adjustability in the longitudinal position of the top rail relative to the cover, allowing the top rail to be positioned at different locations. This dynamic positioning capability enables compensation for frame warping or irregularities while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through standardized reception means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2474702B1Screening arrangement with releasable decorative cover on top rail
Publication Date: 2014.09.10 VKR HOLDING AS
  • EP2474702B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2474702B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2474702B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A screening arrangement (1) for screening an aperture of a frame, comprising a top element (4) and a screening body (6), said top element (4) is provided with a top rail (440) forming the front side of the top element (4) and being connected to a cover (430) of the top element (4), said top rail (440) and cover (430) extend between a first end and a second end, the screening arrangement furthermore includes a set of angular brackets (85), each angular bracket being adapted to cooperate with reception means in the back side of the top rail (440) and in the back side of the respective side rail (8,9), wherein an upper portion (431) of the cover (430) and the top rail (440) is releaseably connected by a T-shaped flange section (435) extending in a longitudinal direction between said first and second end of the cover (430), in order to easily change the appearance of the top rail.