Access Panel With Angled Mounting Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional access panels fail to effectively blend into the surrounding structure while providing efficient and convenient access to hidden components behind walls, as they often require drilling or screwing into the wall, which can be aesthetically unappealing and inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

The access panel design features a mounting member extending at an angle with a retaining member that is biased to contact the inner side, allowing for flexible installation without visible fasteners, and a curved end portion for easy edge insertion, enabling the panel to be securely fastened without visible attachments, thus covering openings without drilling or screwing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional access panels use drilling or screwing fasteners into the wall for secure attachment, then the panel can be firmly fixed to the wall structure, but visible fasteners and wall damage occur which are aesthetically unappealing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fastening function from the panel itself and relocates it to the mounting member that interfaces with the wall structure. The mounting member contains recesses that receive fasteners, separating the aesthetic panel surface from the functional attachment mechanism, thereby hiding fasteners from view while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting member serves as an intermediary between the panel and the wall structure. It provides a interface that can be secured to the wall using conventional fasteners while keeping those fasteners concealed, thus mediating between the aesthetic requirements of the panel and the structural requirements of the wall attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If access panels require drilling or screwing into the wall for installation, then secure attachment is achieved, but installation becomes inconvenient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidinstallation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the access panel assembly into distinct components: the panel, the mounting member with recesses, and the fasteners. This segmentation allows the mounting member to be pre-configured with recesses that guide fastener placement, simplifying the installation process while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If access panels use visible fasteners for attachment, then secure attachment is achieved, but the panel fails to blend into the surrounding structure aesthetically

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidaesthetic integration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If access panels are designed for easy one-handed installation, then installation convenience is improved, but secure attachment may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation convenienceVSAvoidattachment strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates preliminary action by pre-configuring the mounting member with recesses that guide fastener placement and provide proper positioning. This preliminary configuration ensures that even during simple one-handed installation, the fasteners are correctly positioned to achieve secure attachment without requiring complex manual alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This design allows for easy, one-handed installation and concealment of fasteners, providing both aesthetic integration and efficient access to hidden components while maintaining structural integrity and versatility across various opening geometries.

Implementation Method 1

a retaining member coupled to the mounting member, the retaining member having a length and being biased to be in contact with the inner side along a portion of the length, the retaining member also being capable of flexing away from the inner side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10161142B2Access panels

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 HOME DEPOT PRODUCT AUTHORITY LLC

AI summary

Structures and methods for access panels. Some include a panel member having an inner side; a mounting member having a portion extending from the inner side at an angle to the inner side; and a retaining member coupled to the mounting member, the retaining member having a length and being biased to be in contact with the inner side along a portion of the length, the retaining member also being capable of flexing away from the inner side.