Sunshade Slat Locking Mechanism for Vibration Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sunshade apparatuses face challenges in quickly and easily connecting slats to the connecting mechanism, ensuring flexibility and robustness, as well as reducing vibrations that cause noise, particularly in windy conditions or during operation.

Innovation Solution

A sunshade apparatus with a slat having an integral guide and a locking element that slides along the guide between a deactivated and active position, using an elastic structure to generate a force perpendicular to the contact surface, ensuring secure coupling and vibration reduction, and a method for assembling the slat by positioning the locking element to lock the movement element securely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a simple locking system is used to quickly connect slats to movement elements, then assembly speed and ease of operation are improved, but the system lacks flexibility and robustness, leading to vibrations and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidconnection robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking system is segmented into a locking element with locking protrusion and a guide with locking groove, allowing independent optimization of each component. The locking protrusion can be precisely shaped to match the movement element geometry, providing secure engagement while maintaining simple assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide acts as an intermediary component between the slat and movement element, providing both guidance and locking functions. The guide's locking groove receives the locking protrusion, creating a reliable connection that reduces vibrations while maintaining ease of assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a robust locking system is used to ensure connection stability, then reliability is improved, but assembly becomes time-consuming and awkward

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The locking protrusion is pre-formed on the locking element during manufacturing, eliminating the need for complex assembly operations. The guide's locking groove is also pre-configured to receive the protrusion, allowing rapid and reliable connection without time-consuming adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the movement element directly lock to the slat through complex mechanisms, the guide is designed to lock to the movement element first, which then secures the slat. This inverted approach simplifies the assembly sequence while maintaining connection stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Strength

If a fixed locking mechanism is used to secure slats, then connection strength is improved, but the system cannot adapt to different types of movement elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidcompatibility with different movement elements

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide is designed with a universal locking groove geometry that can accommodate different types of movement elements. The locking protrusion can be configured in various shapes to match different movement element profiles, allowing the same guide structure to work with multiple movement element types while maintaining strong connections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 provides a simple, flexible, and robust connection system that reduces vibrations and noise, allowing for easy assembly and reliable operation of sunshade slats across various types of movement elements.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic structure, having a first configuration of non-interference with the movement element and a second configuration where it operates on the movement element to apply a force perpendicular to a contact surface between the slat and the movement element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3237714B1Sunshade apparatus and method of assembling a sunshade slat

Publication Date: 2023.11.22 LUPAK METAL

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AI summary

A sunshade apparatus (1) comprises at least one slat (2) having a guide (10) integral therewith and extending along a longitudinal direction of the slat (2); at least one movement element (9) configured to be coupled to one end of the slat (2); a locking element (11) slidably coupled to the guide (10) of the slat, to be movable along the longitudinal direction between a deactivated position, where it does not interfere with the movement element (9), and an active position, where it is at least partly superposed on the movement element (9) to lock it relative to the slat (2); an elastic structure for applying a force perpendicular to a contact surface between the slat (2) and the movement element (9) when the locking element (11) is at the active position.