Tubular Truss Vertex Cover Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cardboard coverings for the angular portions of tubular truss frames, such as the 'American truss', are fragile, time-consuming to install, and ineffective in preventing damage to screens and covers due to sharp edges, leading to tears or rips.

Innovation Solution

A cover assembly comprising clips, cover components, and angular components made of flexible and durable materials, with snap-fastening and interlocking mechanisms, designed to smooth and protect the angular portions of tubular truss frames, ensuring easy installation without tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cardboard angular coverings are applied to the vertices of the main truss, then the risk of damage to screens and covers is reduced, but the installation time is considerably increased and the coverings are fragile and ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cover assembly is divided into multiple components: a base component that attaches to the tubular element, and a separate angular covering component that attaches to the base. This segmentation allows for pre-fabrication of durable protective elements that can be quickly installed without time-consuming on-site shaping, while maintaining effective protection against screen damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The angular covering components are pre-formed with the correct geometry and protective features before installation. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site shaping and ensures consistent protection quality, directly addressing both the time loss and reliability issues of the cardboard solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cardboard angular coverings are applied to the vertices, then some protection is provided, but the coverings are fragile and require considerable time to be shaped and installed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesharp edges damageVSAvoidcovering durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cover assembly combines different materials with complementary properties: the base component is made from a first material optimized for attachment to the tubular element, while the angular covering is made from a second material specifically selected for its durability and protective qualities. This composite approach ensures both sharp edge coverage and resistance to damage during installation and use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameters from fragile cardboard to durable materials that resist tearing and ripping. The angular covering material is specifically selected to have high strength and flexibility, allowing it to effectively cover sharp edges without being damaged during the screening process or subsequent use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a cover assembly with multiple components and fastening mechanisms is used, then easy installation without tools is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidassembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover assembly incorporates self-fastening mechanisms that allow installers to secure the components to each other and to the tubular element without requiring external tools. The base component and angular covering component are designed to interconnect through intuitive attachment features, enabling tool-free installation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4585768B1Cover assembly for the angular portions of a tubular truss frame
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 LAURETI STEFANO
  • EP4585768B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4585768B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4585768B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A cover assembly (10) for the angular portions of a tubular truss frame is described. The tubular truss frame is preferably of, but not limited to, the so-called "American truss" type and consists of a main truss (F) made of a plurality of tubular elements (T) joining together at the vertices (V) of such main truss (F). The cover assembly (10) comprises at least one first component (12) or clip, which is preferably manufactured with an elastically deformable synthetic material and arranged to be fixed on a respective tubular element (T) at one of the vertices (V) of the main truss frame (F), at least one second component (14) or cover component, which is preferably manufactured with a metal material and arranged to be fixed on one or more first components (12) and at least partially cover a tubular element (T), and at least one third component (16) or angular component, which is preferably manufactured with an elastically deformable synthetic material and arranged to be connected to two or more second components (14) and cover a respective vertex (V) of the main truss (F).