Roller Blind Engagement Insert Blocking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional roller blinds experience instability and risk of falling due to unthreading of the engagement insert from the engagement seat, especially under wind and weather conditions, and incorrect mounting configurations can lead to safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

The roller blind design incorporates a counter-shaped engagement insert and seat with blocking means, including blocking holes and bodies, to securely lock the insert in place, preventing unthreading and ensuring correct mounting by distinguishing between retention and coupling portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a wedge-shaped insert is used to fix the support head to the support bracket, then the blind can be mounted and operated, but the insert can unthread from the engagement seat due to continuous vibrations and stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting operationVSAvoidengagement stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing blocking means (protrusions and recesses) that are pre-configured to prevent unthreading of the insert from the engagement seat. These blocking features are built into the design before the blind is installed, so they automatically prevent the harmful unthreading motion without requiring any additional actions during operation or maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If the insert is made simple for easy insertion, then mounting is easier, but the insert can be incorrectly inserted or unthreaded under stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsert simplicityVSAvoidcorrect mounting assurance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by designing the blocking means with asymmetric protrusions and corresponding recesses that only fit together in the correct orientation. This asymmetric configuration ensures that the insert can only be inserted correctly, preventing incorrect mounting while maintaining simplicity of the insert design. The blocking features naturally guide proper alignment during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If blocking means are added to prevent unthreading, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement securityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by integrating the blocking means directly into the existing components - the protrusions are formed as part of the insert and the recesses are formed as part of the engagement seat. This merging approach adds the blocking function without requiring separate additional components, thereby improving reliability while minimizing increases in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Device complexity

If the insert relies only on friction from shaped edges, then the structure remains simple, but the insert unthreads under continuous vibrations from wind and weather

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing mechanism simplicityVSAvoidvibration resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating blocking means that preemptively counteract the harmful unthreading motion caused by vibrations from wind and weather. The protrusions and recesses are designed to prevent the insert from moving in the unthreading direction before the vibrations can cause damage, thereby providing resistance to environmental harmful factors while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP4015734B1A roller blind and a process for mounting a roller blind.
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 GIBUS
  • EP4015734B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4015734B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4015734B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c

AI summary

Roller blind (1) comprising two support bodies (2), two support heads (3), mechanically connected to the support bodies (2), a winding roller (4), rotatable around a revolution axis (R) and supported by the support heads (3), and a sheet (5) windable around the winding roller (4). Each support body (2) comprises a first coupling portion (21) and a first retention portion (22) spaced from each other and each support head (3) comprises a second coupling portion (31) mechanically engaged with the first coupling portion (21) and a second retention portion (32), facing the first retention portion (22) to delimit an engagement seat (6). In addition, the roller blind (1) comprises an engagement insert (7) inserted within the engagement seat (6) and blocking means (8) arranged for blocking the engagement insert (7) in the engagement seat (6). In particular, the blocking means (8) are provided with a blocking hole (81, 82), made in one between the first retention portion and the second retention portion (22, 32), and a blocking body (83, 84) mechanically constrained to the engagement insert (7) and inserted in the blocking hole (81, 82), or vice versa, in order to prevent the sliding of the blocking insert (7).