Modular Accessory Box for Roller Shutters with Adjustable Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roller shutter installations with accessory boxes are not easily mountable or removable regardless of the configuration, particularly when installed in lintels or half-lintels, as they are not adaptable to different mounting setups and can obstruct protective canvases during movement.

Innovation Solution

A modular accessory box designed to fit directly onto the brackets supporting the roller shutter shaft, with adjustable length and alignment to accommodate various configurations, featuring a hollow cylindrical central portion and cheek components that can be fixed to the brackets or guidance flasks, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and incorporating features like alignment organs and guidance tulips to manage the protective canvas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the accessory box is fixed to the roller shutter box using existing methods (clipped onto internal walls or fixed to the roller shutter box), then the box can be securely mounted, but it cannot be easily disassembled or adapted to different configurations (lintel mounting, half-lintel mounting, etc.)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure mountingVSAvoidadaptability to different configurations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory box is divided into a body portion and two separate fixing portions that can be independently positioned and attached to different support elements (brackets or guide flanges), allowing the box to be adapted to various mounting configurations while maintaining secure fixation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing portions are designed to be compatible with multiple types of support elements (both brackets and guide flanges), enabling the same accessory box design to be used across different roller shutter configurations including lintel mounting, half-lintel mounting, and box mounting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the accessory box is designed with fixed dimensions to fit specific configurations, then it can be securely mounted in that configuration, but it cannot be easily removed or installed in different configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixationVSAvoidease of assembly and disassembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory box transitions from a static, fixed-dimension design to a dynamic configuration where the body portion can be positioned at different locations relative to the fixing portions, allowing easy adaptation to different mounting scenarios while maintaining secure fixation in each configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the box length is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the protective fabric may be blocked during movement in certain configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidsmooth operation of protective fabric
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The box length parameter is made variable through the adjustable positioning of the body portion relative to the fixing portions, allowing the effective length to be optimized for different mounting configurations to prevent blocking of the protective fabric while maintaining overall structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4506533A1Accessory box for a roller shutter installation, associated mounting subassembly and roller shutter installation
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 ZURFLUH FELLER SA
  • EP4506533A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4506533A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4506533A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This housing (50) is designed for a roller shutter installation (10) and is configured to house an accessory, in particular a protective screen. The housing (50) has an elongated shape along a main axis (A50) and comprises two opposite ends, each configured to be fixed respectively to a support element chosen from among a bracket (20) supporting a winding tube (26) of a protective screen of the roller shutter installation (10), or a guide flange of the protective screen.