Rollable Drip Strip With Swivel Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drip strips are cumbersome to transport and store due to their long, narrow packaging, requiring special handling and resulting in inefficiencies in storage and transportation.

Innovation Solution

A rollable drip strip design featuring flexible flat bars connected by swivel joints, with adhesive and mounting elements, allowing the strip to be wound onto a roller, reducing space occupation and facilitating easier handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If drip strips are made as angle bars and packaged in long loads, then the structural integrity and functionality of the drip strip is maintained, but the transportation and storage efficiency deteriorates due to large space occupation and special handling requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidtransportation and storage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drip strip transitions from a rigid angle bar configuration to a flexible, foldable structure with swivel joints that allow the strip to be collapsed and rolled into a compact form for transportation and storage, then deployed into its functional angled configuration at the installation site

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drip strip folds into a nested compact form where the walls are collapsed together through swivel joints, allowing the long strip to be contained in a small rolled package that occupies minimal storage space and can be easily transported

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Stability of the object's composition

If drip strips are made as rigid angle bars, then the structural stability is ensured, but the ease of operation during transportation and storage deteriorates due to cumbersome handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The drip strip employs swivel joints that enable dynamic folding and rolling operations during transportation, while maintaining structural stability when deployed in the final installation configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drip strip utilizes flexible flat bar walls connected by swivel joints, allowing the structure to be easily folded and rolled for handling, while maintaining sufficient rigidity when installed to perform its water diversion function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 rollable design significantly reduces storage and transportation challenges, enabling more efficient use and installation of drip strips with reduced waste and increased flexibility in length options.

Implementation Method 1

an adhesive element arranged on one out of the first wall, second wall and third wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4461901A1Drip strip
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 BELLA PLAST JASTRZEBSKI I WSPOLNICY SPOLKA KOMANDYTOWA
  • EP4461901A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4461901A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4461901A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The drip strip according to the invention is characterised in that it comprises a first wall extending along the length of the drip strip, a second wall that extending along the length of the drip strip, wherein the second wall is connected to the first wall by means of a swivel joint, a third wall that extending along the length of the drip strip, wherein the third wall is connected to the first wall by means of a swivel joint, opposite to the second wall, wherein the first wall, second wall and third wall have the form of a flexible flat bar, and an adhesive element arranged on one out of the first wall, second wall and third wall. Preferably, the drip strip according to the invention is in a form selected from among a roll, roller and spool.