Slidable Screen Tension Member Connector for Easier Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing screen apparatus requires complex and skill-dependent wiring operations for the tension member due to the unequal lengths of the first and second guide units, leading to uneven storage widths and difficulty in fixing ends to the second guide, which is further away from the open end of the slidable frame.
Innovation Solution
The tension member is drawn from the open end of the slidable frame and fixed to a male part of a connector outside the frame, then stored in a receiving portion of a female part connected to the second guide, facilitating easy fixing and wiring without requiring high skill levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the first guide units and second guide units have unequal lengths in the Z-axis direction, then the width of the second storage portion can be reduced, but the wiring operation becomes complex and skill-dependent
Solution Approach 1:
A connector is introduced as an intermediary component between the tension member and the second guide. The connector includes a male part that receives the tension member ends and a female part that connects to the second guide, facilitating easier wiring operations while maintaining the unequal lengths of guide units for compact storage
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is divided into separate components: the tension member, the connector with male and female parts, and the second guide. This segmentation allows the tension member to be easily wired to the male part externally, while the female part internally connects to the second guide, simplifying the overall wiring process
2Area of stationary object
If the second guide is positioned further from the open end of the slidable frame, then the storage width is reduced, but the wiring operation requires higher skill levels
Solution Approach 1:
The connector acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between the easily accessible open end and the second guide positioned deeper in the storage portion. The male part of the connector is accessible from the open end for simple wiring, while the female part connects to the second guide at its deeper position
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is pre-configured with the male part designed to receive tension member ends and the female part designed to connect to the second guide. This preliminary configuration allows users to perform the wiring operation at the accessible open end without needing to access the deeper second guide position directly
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A connector 11 which is connected to a second guide unit 73 positioned at one end in a Z-axis direction of a second guide 7 stored in a second storage portion 23 of a slidable frame 2, forms a free end 71, and is longitudinal in an X-axis direction has a female part 111 and a male part 112 that is fixable to and separate from the female part 111, the female part 111 has, at the other end portion in the Z-axis direction, a pair of connecting pieces 111b opposing to each other in a Y-axis direction, in which a third opening 111a, in which each of second pins 73c of a second guide unit 73 is loosely fitted, is opened, a fourth opening 111c for fastening is opened in the X-axis direction at one end portion in the Z-axis direction of the female part 111 and a hollow receiving portion 111d extending in the Z-axis direction is formed in the female part 111, the male part 112 is storable in the receiving portion 111d of the female part 111, one end and the other end of a tension member 8 are fixed to the male part 112, and a fixing piece 112b, in which a fifth opening 112a capable of communicating with the fourth opening 111c of the female part 111 is opened in the X-axis direction, extends from one end portion in the Z-axis direction to one side of in the Z-axis direction in the male part 112.