Retractable Barrier Assembly with Torsion Spring and Guide Member
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retractable barriers are inadequate for guiding and routing persons while preventing unauthorized ingress and egress from pathways, as they lack sufficient width for signage and often 'bunch up' during extension and retraction, causing operational and installation issues.
Innovation Solution
A portable and retractable barrier assembly featuring a flexible screen with a torsion spring mechanism and guide member to prevent binding, allowing for smooth extension and retraction, and incorporating pre-printed signage capabilities, with support members for added stiffness and attachment mechanisms for easy interconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional retractable barriers are used, then they can prevent access to areas, but they bunch up during extension and retraction causing operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible screen made of thin film material that can extend and retract smoothly without bunching. The screen is designed with specific flexibility characteristics that allow it to conform to the retractable mechanism while maintaining a flat, unbunched appearance during operation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling smooth operation (improved ease of operation) while preventing bunching (improved reliability).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the screen including its flexibility modulus, thickness, and material composition to optimize performance. By adjusting these parameters, the screen achieves the right balance between being flexible enough to retract smoothly and rigid enough to resist bunching, thereby improving both ease of operation and reliability simultaneously.
2Area of moving object
If the barrier width is increased for signage purposes, then signage capability is improved, but the barrier becomes more complex and harder to install
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the retractable barrier system into modular segments including the housing, screen, spring mechanism, and mounting components. This segmentation allows the wide screen to be manufactured and installed as a standardized module, reducing installation complexity despite the increased width needed for signage. The modular design enables easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining large screen area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the barrier assembly to serve multiple functions: providing physical barrier protection, displaying signage, and guiding pedestrian flow. The housing and mounting mechanism are designed universally to accommodate screens of various widths, allowing the same basic structure to handle both narrow and wide configurations without increasing complexity, thus enabling large screen area while maintaining simple installation.
3Strength
If support members are added for stiffness, then structural strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the support function with existing structural elements of the barrier assembly. The housing structure is designed to provide both mounting functionality and structural support, while the screen itself is engineered with inherent stiffness through material selection and dimensional design. By merging support functions into existing components rather than adding separate support members, the patent improves screen stiffness while minimizing increase in device complexity.
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 effectively guides and routes persons while inhibiting unauthorized access, maintaining operational efficiency and aesthetics by preventing 'bunching' and allowing for easy installation and removal, with the ability to display signage.
Implementation Method 1
A portable and retractable barrier assembly featuring a flexible screen with a torsion spring mechanism
Implementation Method 2
guide member to prevent binding, allowing for smooth extension and retraction
Data Source
AI summary
A non-anchored, self-supporting screen assembly for selective placement by a user on a walking surface. The assembly includes a housing having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween and having an elongate opening. A base independently supports and disposes the housing in an upright position substantially normal to the walking surface during use. A rotatable rod is disposed within the housing and coupled to a trailing edge of a flexible screen. The flexible screen may be coupled to an external attachment point upon extension of the screen through the elongate opening and decoupled upon retraction. A spring is coupled to the rotatable rod to exert a force in a direction opposite a direction of extension of the flexible screen. The flexible screen of an adjacent assembly may be coupled to the assembly to form a screen system.