Fabric Roller Blind Elastic Return Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fabric roller blinds face issues with non-uniform fabric stretching, leading to deterioration and terminal misalignment, and have high production and installation costs due to complex alignment mechanisms that can jam or block.
Innovation Solution
A fabric roller blind design featuring a handle bar with elastic return means, including an upper flexible belt and intermediate flexible belt wound around a reel with a spiral spring, which maintains alignment and tension, reducing bulk and complexity, and preventing jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex alignment mechanisms are used to maintain terminal alignment during handle bar movement, then alignment reliability is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the alignment function from complex mechanical alignment mechanisms and transfers it to the elastic return means itself. The elastic belts and spiral spring inherently maintain terminal alignment through their elastic properties during handle bar movement, eliminating the need for separate alignment devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic return means serves dual functions: it provides the return force to move the handle bar back to the initial position and simultaneously maintains terminal alignment during movement. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate alignment mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex alignment mechanisms are used to prevent terminal misalignment, then alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the return means by using elastic belts with specific elasticity characteristics and a spiral spring with calibrated spring constant. These parameter changes allow the system to maintain terminal alignment precision through elastic deformation rather than complex mechanical constraints, simplifying manufacturing and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex alignment mechanisms with simpler, more cost-effective elastic return means. The elastic belts and spiral spring are simpler components that are easier and cheaper to manufacture and install, while still achieving the required alignment precision through their elastic properties.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid alignment structures are used to maintain terminal position, then alignment stability is improved, but device complexity and risk of jamming increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from rigid, static alignment structures to dynamic elastic return means. The elastic belts and spiral spring can dynamically adapt to handle bar position changes while maintaining terminal stability. This dynamic approach reduces the risk of jamming compared to rigid structures that cannot accommodate movement variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible elastic belts instead of rigid alignment structures. These flexible belts can bend and deform to accommodate handle bar movement while maintaining terminal alignment, reducing the risk of jamming that occurs with rigid structures. The flexibility allows the system to adapt to positional variations without mechanical interference.
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 design ensures reliable operation with uniform fabric stretching, reduced risk of jamming, and lower production and installation costs, providing a structurally simple and aesthetically pleasing solution.
Implementation Method 1
a spiral spring (13) housed within the reel (11) and configured for forcing the winding of the upper flexible belt (9) and of the intermediate flexible belt (10)
Data Source
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AI summary
Fabric roller blind, which comprises a support frame (2) provided with at least one lateral upright (3), a fabric (5), a handle bar (6), which is fixed to a second lateral edge of the fabric (5), movable between at least one open position and at least one closed position, a guide chain (7) susceptible of being extended below the fabric (5) and movable between a retracted position, in which it is housed within the handle bar (6) with the handle bar (6) in open position and an extended position in which it is unwound below the fabric (5) with the handle bar (6) in closed position, an upper flexible belt (9) extended between a first end (14) mechanically connected to the lateral upright (3) and a second end (15), an intermediate flexible belt (10) extended between a third end (16) connected to the second end (15) of the upper flexible belt (9) and a fourth end (17) connected to the guide chain (7), at least one reel (11) having a substantially horizontal second rotation axis (Y), rotatably connected to the handle bar (6) at an upper terminal (18), around which the upper flexible belt (9) and the intermediate flexible belt (10) are wound in a common winding direction, elastic return means (12) mechanically associated with the reel (11) and configured for forcing the winding of the upper flexible belt (9) and of the intermediate flexible belt (10).