Rotatable Building Cladding Panels for Changeable Facade Appearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building cladding systems require significant effort and cost to alter their appearance, as the finished cladding surface is permanent and cannot be easily changed.

Innovation Solution

A building cladding system comprising movable panels that can be rotated mechanically or electronically to change their orientation, allowing for different designs and appearances, controlled by a controller with mechanisms such as chains, gears, motors, and microprocessors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional permanent cladding is used, then structural protection is provided, but appearance alteration requires significant effort and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance changeabilityVSAvoideffort and cost to alter appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cladding panels are designed to be rotatable about their vertical axes, transforming the static cladding system into a dynamic one. Each panel can be rotated to different orientations (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°) to display different design elements on its surfaces, enabling appearance alteration without physical replacement or re-finishing of the cladding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cladding system is divided into multiple independent panels, each capable of individual rotation. Each panel contains multiple surfaces with different design elements (e.g., brick pattern, stone pattern, wood grain), and by rotating individual panels or groups of panels, different overall design patterns can be created on the building facade.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If cladding appearance is made changeable, then aesthetic versatility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic versatilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses simple rotational joints allowing panels to pivot between predetermined angular positions. This dynamic capability provides multiple appearance configurations without requiring complex mechanisms, as each panel can be rotated to discrete orientations that present different design elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The panels are designed with inherent rotational capability through simple hinges or pivot points, allowing the system to change appearance through passive rotation rather than requiring active control mechanisms for each panel. The rotational joints themselves enable the aesthetic transformation without additional complex components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12359441B2Building cladding systems and methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 WESTLAKE ROYAL BUILDING PRODUCTS INC

AI summary

Building cladding systems with changeable appearances are described. The building cladding system may include a plurality of panels, a substrate, and a controller configured to move the plurality of panels relative to the substrate to change the appearance of the building cladding system, while protecting the substrate. Moving the plurality of panels to change the appearance of the building cladding system may include rotation.