Window Blind Fabric Coating for Pollen Denaturation and Ventilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for avoiding airborne allergens like pollen in buildings, such as keeping windows and doors shut, restrict ventilation and do not effectively manage indoor air quality, leading to poor quality of life for allergy sufferers.

Innovation Solution

A hypoallergenic coating composition for fabrics, comprising a pollen denaturing agent, an anti-microbial agent, and a polymeric carrier, which traps and denatures pollen allergens without restricting ventilation, using a combination of inorganic compounds like zirconium carbonate and anti-microbial agents like zinc compounds, applied as a polymeric layer on fabrics for architectural openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If windows and doors are kept shut to avoid airborne allergens, then pollen exposure is reduced, but ventilation is restricted and indoor air quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollen exposureVSAvoidventilation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful function of pollen is extracted and neutralized by applying a coating composition containing pollen denaturing agents (such as zirconium compounds, titanium compounds, or aluminum compounds) to the fabric. The coating captures and denatures pollen particles that land on the fabric surface, separating the pollen avoidance function from the ventilation function, allowing windows to remain open while preventing allergen exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A fabric coating acts as an intermediary barrier between airborne pollen and the indoor environment. The coating composition, applied to window blind fabrics or curtains, serves as a mediating layer that captures pollen particles through adsorption and denaturation processes, allowing air to pass through while preventing allergen penetration into living spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a coating is applied to fabric to denature pollen, then pollen allergenicity is reduced, but the fabric structure and ventilation properties may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallergen denaturationVSAvoidfabric coating structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A thin polymeric coating layer is applied to the fabric surface to provide pollen denaturation functionality. The coating forms a flexible film that maintains the fabric's inherent porosity and breathability while adding the allergen-neutralizing function. The thin film structure ensures that ventilation properties are preserved while achieving effective pollen capture and denaturation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The coating composition combines multiple functional components into a composite material system, including pollen denaturing agents (metal compounds like zirconium, titanium, or aluminum), polymeric binders, and potentially antimicrobial agents. This composite coating provides multifunctionality (pollen denaturation, fabric protection, and maintained ventilation) while maintaining a relatively simple application process and fabric structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 coating effectively denatures at least 50% of pollen particles, improving indoor air quality and reducing allergenic responses without compromising ventilation, thereby enhancing the quality of life for allergy sufferers.

Implementation Method 1

The coating effectively denatures at least 50% of pollen particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3387181B1Window blind fabric coated with pollen denaturation coating compositon
Publication Date: 2020.01.29 LOUVER LITE LTD
  • EP3387181B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A coating composition for fabrics, wherein the coating composition comprises a pollen denaturing agent, an anti-microbial agent and a polymeric carrier, wherein the pollen denaturing agent is different to the anti-microbial agent.