Roller Shutter Housing Anti-Glare Cap Spacer Cam Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anti-glare caps for roller shutter boxes do not fit seamlessly with either sheet metal or extruded roller shutter boxes, leading to aesthetic issues and logistical complexities in mounting, as they either fail to cover cut edges or protrude excessively, requiring separate guide rails for each type.

Innovation Solution

The use of spacer cams distributed over the circumference of the blind cap, which engage with grooves in the roller shutter box, ensures the cap is flush with the outer surfaces, allowing for a common guide rail to be used with both sheet metal and extruded roller shutter boxes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the edge thickness of anti-glare caps is increased to cover cut edges of extruded roller shutter boxes, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the caps protrude laterally in thin-walled sheet metal roller shutter boxes and prevent proper mounting of guide rails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidmounting of guide rails
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The blind cap is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution: thicker at the outer peripheral edge to cover cut edges of extruded boxes, and thinner at the inner region where guide rails are mounted. This local differentiation allows the cap to satisfy both aesthetic requirements for extruded boxes and mounting requirements for sheet metal boxes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces variable geometric parameters in the blind cap design, specifically the thickness distribution and the positioning of the mounting surface relative to the outer peripheral edge. These parameter variations enable the single cap design to adapt to different roller shutter box types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Shape

If separate blind caps are designed for sheet metal and extruded roller shutter boxes to achieve proper fit and appearance, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the device complexity and logistical requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidnumber of blind cap variants
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blind cap is designed as a universal component that can be used with both sheet metal and extruded roller shutter boxes. The key feature is that the distance between the mounting surface for guide rails and the outer peripheral edge is at least equal to the material thickness of the roller shutter box, allowing the same cap design to accommodate different box types.

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

3Device complexity

If a single blind cap design is used for both sheet metal and extruded roller shutter boxes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cap cannot achieve flush fit with outer surfaces of both types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of blind cap variantsVSAvoidflush fit with outer surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The blind cap incorporates localized thickness variations and strategically positioned mounting surfaces that adapt to different box types. The outer peripheral edge thickness is sufficient to cover cut edges of extruded boxes, while the mounting surface positioning ensures proper alignment for both sheet metal and extruded boxes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The design utilizes variable parameters including the distance from the mounting surface to the outer peripheral edge (set to be at least equal to the maximum material thickness), and the thickness distribution across the cap. These parameter choices enable the single cap design to achieve flush fit with different box types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2161403B1Roller shutter housing
Publication Date: 2013.01.16 LAKAL
  • EP2161403B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2161403B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

The roller-shutter case (3) has case-sided terminal panel casings (1), where the panel casings have distance cams (2) at a circumference. Grooves (4) are provided at an inner surface in the field of distance cams of the extruded case, where the grooves are wider than the distance cams.