Tile and Flexible Sheet Assembly for Full-Scale Cladding Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for displaying and selecting rigid claddings like natural stone, artificial stone, or ceramic for applications such as kitchen countertops face challenges in accurately visualizing and handling large surfaces due to the size and weight of slabs, leading to incorrect perception of the final appearance and requiring extensive space and resources.
Innovation Solution
A combination of a small-sized tile with a surface finish and a flexible sheet printed at full scale, allowing for the visualization of the cladding's visual and tactile qualities, where the flexible sheet is several times larger than the tile, enabling accurate representation of the cladding's appearance without the need for large slabs, and facilitating easy storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If large slabs of rigid cladding are used for display, then the sensory properties can be realistically displayed, but the space requirement increases and handling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into two independent components: a small physical tile containing the actual cladding material for tactile evaluation, and a large flexible sheet with printed full-scale visual representation for appearance assessment. This segmentation allows each component to serve its specific function optimally without requiring large physical space for the actual material.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible sheet is printed with a graphic pattern that reproduces the color and surface appearance of the cladding at full scale. This optical copy allows users to visualize the ultimate appearance of the cladding on large surfaces without needing to handle or display actual large slabs, thereby reducing space requirements while maintaining visualization accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If large slabs of rigid cladding are used for display, then the sensory properties can be realistically displayed, but the weight and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display system separates the tactile evaluation function (performed on a small physical tile) from the visual assessment function (performed on a printed flexible sheet). This allows users to appreciate tactile qualities like texture and gloss on a manageable tile while visualizing the full-scale appearance on a lightweight printed sheet, eliminating the need to handle heavy large-format slabs.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual appearance of the cladding is reproduced on a flexible printed sheet that is several times larger than the physical tile. This optical copy provides full-scale visualization of the cladding's appearance without the weight and handling difficulties associated with actual large slabs, while the small tile provides authentic tactile feedback.
3Ease of operation
If small tiles are used for display, then storage and handling become easy, but the visualization of large surface appearance is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the evaluation task into two parts: a small physical tile (easy to handle and store) that provides authentic tactile properties, and a large flexible printed sheet (easy to display and store when not in use) that provides full-scale visual representation. The flexible sheet can be folded or rolled for compact storage, combining the benefits of both small and large display formats.
4Measurement precision
If photographs of installed cladding are used, then large surface appearance can be visualized, but spatial and lighting conditions differ from the installation space
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using photographs taken in different spatial and lighting conditions, the invention uses a flexible sheet printed with a graphic pattern that reproduces the cladding's color and surface appearance at full scale. This direct full-scale reproduction eliminates the distortions and condition differences inherent in photographs, providing reliable visualization of how the cladding will actually appear in the installation space.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for the sensorial display of a rigid cladding with a particular surface finish, the sensorial display assembly comprising a tile (1), corresponding to a sample of a minor portion of the cladding to be displayed, of the same material and with the same surface finish as the cited cladding to be displayed; and wherein the sensorial display assembly further comprises, associated with said tile (1), for its joint storage and/or display, a flexible sheet (2) printed with a graphic pattern that visually reproduces, at full scale, the color and surface appearance of the cladding to be displayed, the surface of the flexible sheet (2) being several times larger than the surface of the tile (1).