Adjustable Roof AC Hold-Down Bracket With Rim-Clip Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hold-down brackets for securing air conditioners to roof-mounted supports are non-adjustable and require multiple sizes to accommodate different air conditioner and support combinations, leading to inventory management challenges.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece, adjustable hold-down bracket system with a clip mechanism for securement to the air conditioner support, utilizing metal screws for attachment, which can be adapted for different sizes of air conditioners and supports, including those without wooden cores, using galvanized steel or aluminum construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional non-adjustable hold-down brackets are used, then the bracket can be simply constructed, but multiple sizes must be inventoried to accommodate different air conditioner and support combinations
Solution Approach 1:
The hold-down bracket incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the bracket to be modified in size and configuration after manufacture. This dynamic adjustment capability enables a single bracket design to accommodate multiple air conditioner sizes and support combinations, eliminating the need for inventorying multiple fixed-size brackets while maintaining construction simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is designed with universal adaptability features including adjustable arms and configurable mounting positions that allow one bracket design to serve multiple functions across different air conditioner models and support types. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling a single simple design to replace multiple specialized bracket sizes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sizes of hold-down brackets are maintained in inventory, then adaptability to different air conditioners is improved, but inventory management complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By making the bracket adjustable rather than fixed in multiple sizes, the system transitions from a static inventory of various bracket dimensions to a single dynamic bracket design that can be configured for different applications. This eliminates inventory management complexity while preserving adaptability through post-manufacture adjustment capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal bracket design with adjustable features allows one product to replace multiple specialized products in the inventory. The bracket can be configured to fit different air conditioner sizes and support types, thereby reducing inventory complexity while maintaining full compatibility across various applications.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece non-adjustable bracket is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but the bracket cannot accommodate different sized air conditioners and supports
Solution Approach 1:
The single-piece bracket incorporates integrated adjustment mechanisms that allow it to change configuration after manufacture. This maintains the manufacturing simplicity of a single-piece construction while adding the adaptability to accommodate different sizes through built-in adjustment features rather than requiring multiple specialized pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The design merges the advantages of single-piece construction simplicity with adjustment capabilities into one integrated bracket. Rather than combining multiple separate components, the adjustment mechanisms are integrated into the single-piece structure, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving size accommodation.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner support system including a hold-down bracket for securing an air conditioner to a roof mounted air conditioner support, the hold-down bracket including a clip engageable with a rim portion of the support to maintain the hold-down bracket in position on the support.