Screen Guide Units with Detachable Retainers and Travel Stoppers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screen apparatuses face issues with deformation and damage of rigid protrusions due to repeated expansion and storage, necessitating multiple guide unit types for different screen materials, and screen retaining members can slip out during repeated use.

Innovation Solution

A screen apparatus with pivotally movable first guide units and detachable screen retaining members, featuring needle-like parts that stab and retract to prevent slipping, and a longitudinal adjuster with stoppers to regulate movement, ensuring the guide units are made of a single type and minimizing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid protrusions are used to stab and hold the screen end, then the screen can be prevented from slipping out, but the rigid protrusions undergo deformation and damage due to repeated expansion and storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen retentionVSAvoidrigid protrusion durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The first guide units are divided into multiple detachable sections connected by coupling parts. This segmentation allows the guide units to be assembled and disassembled, preventing the rigid protrusions from undergoing repeated stabbing and slipping motions that cause deformation and damage, while still maintaining reliable screen retention during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide units are designed to be movable and adjustable along the guide shafts, allowing dynamic repositioning. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to different screen lengths and tensions, distributing mechanical stress away from the rigid protrusions and preventing their degradation from repeated use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If different kinds of first guide units are used for different screen materials, then screen damage can be prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen damageVSAvoidguide unit variety
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single type of first guide unit design is used for all screen materials. The guide units are universally compatible with different screen kinds through the detachable coupling mechanism, eliminating the need for multiple specialized guide unit types while preventing screen damage through proper installation and adjustment.

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

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of changing the structural type of guide units for different screens, the system adjusts parameters such as the position of guide units along the guide shafts and the tension applied to screens. This parameter-based adaptation maintains simplicity while preventing damage to different screen materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If screen retaining members are detachably attached to first guide units, then the members can be removed and reattached, but they may slip out during repeated use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretaining member accessibilityVSAvoidretaining member stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The screen retaining members are pre-equipped with attachment structures that engage with corresponding features on the first guide units. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the members are attached, they automatically secure in the correct position, preventing slippage during repeated expansion and storage operations while remaining easily detachable when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4350118B1Screen apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 METACO INC
  • EP4350118B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4350118B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4350118B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A longitudinal adjuster 10 that forms a free end 61 of the first guide 6, to which a weight 101 is attached, and which moves in an inside of the slidable frame in a Z-axis direction is connected to a first guide unit 63 that is positioned at the other end in the Z-axis direction of the first guide 6. A pair of hollow first stoppers 103 opposing to each other in a Y-axis direction are provided at an end part to which the first guide unit 63 is connected in the adjuster 10, each of the first stoppers 103 has an open end 103a at a side of the first guide unit 63 and a closed end 103b at a side opposite to the open end 103a in the longitudinal direction of the adjuster 10. A linear notch 103c is formed on an extension line of a rail part 63g of the first guide unit 63 to which the adjuster 10 is connected at each of inner side surfaces in an opposite direction of both of the first stoppers 103. A stopping unit 64 is connected to the first guide unit 63 that exists at a position corresponding to the other end in an X-axis direction in a drawn portion 62 of the first guide 6, and a stopping unit 64 is the same as the first guide unit 63 except that a supporting piece 63h is removed and a second stopper 64a extending from each of the rail parts 63g to the other end in the Z-axis direction of each of the side walls 63a is provided at a connected end to the first guide unit 63.