Roller Screen Bottom Bar Handle Groove Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roller screens face difficulties in operation due to the bottom bar getting snagged or stuck in side rails, and incorrect positioning can lead to gaps that allow insects to enter, with existing solutions like guidance cords being complex.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a longitudinal groove in the bottom bar with insert elements to create a handle portion for central gripping, which ensures proper operation and synchronous movement, and optionally including lighting elements and proximity sensors for improved user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If guidance cords are added to prevent the bottom bar from getting stuck, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebottom bar operation reliabilityVSAvoidguidance cord system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex guidance cord system entirely and replaces it with a simple longitudinal groove in the bottom bar that guides the bar's movement through the side rails. This extraction of unnecessary components directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through the groove's guiding function while eliminating device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The longitudinal groove acts as an intermediary element between the bottom bar and the side rails. Instead of using complex guidance cords, the groove itself serves as the mediating structure that prevents snagging while keeping the system simple. The groove's geometry provides the necessary guidance without requiring additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the bottom bar is operated at the edges, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to uneven coverage and gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebottom bar accessibilityVSAvoidscreening body positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates an asymmetric handle portion within the longitudinal groove that is positioned off-center or has an asymmetric shape. This asymmetric design naturally guides users to grip at the correct location, ensuring central operation for proper screening body coverage while maintaining ease of operation through the ergonomic handle design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The handle portion serves as an intermediary that mediates between the user's gripping action and the desired central operation. By providing a dedicated gripping zone within the groove, it ensures users apply force at the correct location, preventing edge operation that would cause uneven coverage while keeping the interface simple and easy to use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a continuous handle is provided on the bottom bar, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebottom bar gripping comfortVSAvoidhandle structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential gripping function from a continuous handle and implements it as a simple longitudinal groove with an insert element. This minimalistic approach provides adequate gripping comfort for central operation while avoiding the complexity of a full continuous handle structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing a continuous handle along the entire bottom bar, the patent applies the handling feature locally only where needed - within the longitudinal groove. This localized approach provides sufficient gripping comfort for central operation while significantly reducing device complexity compared to a continuous handle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4077862B1Roller screen with improved handle portion
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 VKR HOLDING AS
  • EP4077862B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4077862B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4077862B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A roller screen comprising a top casing in which a spring-biased roller bar is arranged, a bottom bar being manually operable, a first side rail and a second side rail, and a screening body being movable between a non-screening position and a screening position. The bottom bar comprising a longitudinal groove and at least one or more insert element accommodated within the longitudinal groove, wherein the least one or more insert element delimits a handle portion for gripping the bottom bar at a central section of the bottom bar.