Shading Device Blade Endfitting Concealment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling roller shutter apron elements result in visible punching or cutting marks, which are aesthetically unsightly and not concealed.
Innovation Solution
The apron element features a blade with a deformable attachment means and a complementary attachment means on the end piece, allowing for a hooking mechanism that conceals the assembly and improves aesthetics by using elastic materials and a matrix for deformation, enabling the end piece to fill a housing within the blade, thus hiding the assembly means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If punching or cutting is used to immobilize the end piece inside the blade, then the assembly is secure and reliable, but visible marks are created that are aesthetically unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful visible marks from punching or cutting are extracted and removed from the final product. Instead of creating permanent visible marks, the invention uses a tab that is pushed inside the cavity and concealed, separating the functional immobilization from the visible surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab from the blade is nested inside the cavity of the end piece during assembly. The tab is inserted laterally into the cavity and then concealed within the internal structure, hiding the assembly means from external view while maintaining secure immobilization.
2Reliability
If a tab is cut out and pushed inside the cavity to cooperate with the end piece, then the assembly is secure, but the cutting and punching operations create visible unsightly marks
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful visible marks from cutting and punching are converted into a benefit by using the tab's insertion and concealment. The tab is pushed inside the cavity where it is no longer visible, and the same operations that created the marks now serve to create the immobilization mechanism that is hidden from view.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional punching or cutting methods are used for assembly, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the visible marks reduce product quality perception
Solution Approach 1:
The tab is preliminarily formed on the blade before assembly with the end piece. The lateral end of the blade is prepared with the tab structure in advance, which is then pushed into the cavity during assembly. This preliminary preparation maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling the concealment of assembly marks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively conceals the assembly means and enhances the aesthetic appearance of the concealment device by using elastic attachment mechanisms and a matrix for deformation, ensuring the end piece fills the blade's housing, eliminating visible marks from the assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
at least the wall which comprises at least one wing, or even said wing itself, are elastic in nature
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The element has a blade (6) comprising a lateral end (60) and provided with a cavity leading to the lateral end, and an endfitting (7) partially engaged in an interior of the cavity. The blade comprises a hooking unit (63) realized by deformation of the blade and a housing (65) resulting from deformation of the blade to allow realization of the hooking unit. The endfitting comprises an additional hooking unit (72) cooperating with the hooking unit of the blade and a covering unit (74) to cover the housing of the blade. An independent claim is also included for a method for assembling an endfitting and a blade of a panel element of a shading device.