Adjustable Anchoring Connection for Precise Wooden Component Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for connecting wooden components in high-load applications face challenges in achieving precise assembly and accommodating manufacturing tolerances, leading to potential misalignment and increased assembly time due to the inability to adjust the screw-in depth after initial assembly.

Innovation Solution

The device features anchoring elements with an adjustable mechanism accessible from below, allowing for post-assembly adjustment of the second component relative to the first, ensuring high connection accuracy and enabling the transmission of significant tensile and transverse forces through a coaxial support and guide section with bores and conical surfaces, facilitating precise positioning and secure engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the screw-in depth of the retaining screw is fixed before assembly, then the assembly process is simplified, but manufacturing tolerances cannot be compensated leading to misalignment and connection inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly process simplicityVSAvoidconnection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining screw is designed with a threaded bore allowing dynamic adjustment of screw-in depth after assembly. The second component can be rotated relative to the first component to achieve precise alignment by adjusting the screw-in depth of the retaining screw, transforming a static fixed-depth design into a dynamic adjustable one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention allows changing the screw-in depth parameter of the retaining screw after assembly. The threaded bore in the retaining screw enables variation of the engagement depth to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and achieve optimal connection accuracy between components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the retaining screw is made accessible from above, then initial assembly is easier, but post-assembly adjustment for tolerance compensation is impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial assembly easeVSAvoidpost-assembly adjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting means is positioned at the bottom of the first component, providing access from a different spatial dimension (below rather than above). This allows the retaining screw to be accessible during initial assembly from above while enabling post-assembly adjustment from below, effectively utilizing vertical space for dual-purpose access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded bore in the retaining screw acts as an intermediary mechanism. It allows the retaining screw to be initially accessible from above for assembly while providing a pathway for adjustment from below after assembly, mediating between the two conflicting accessibility requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the screw-in depth is too small to ensure proper hanging, then assembly is straightforward, but play occurs between carrier plate and retaining screw reducing connection stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly straightforwardnessVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable screw-in depth mechanism allows the connection to transition from a fixed state to a dynamically optimizable state. After assembly, the screw-in depth can be increased to eliminate play and achieve optimal connection stability without compromising the straightforward initial assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Stability of the object's composition

If the screw-in depth is increased to eliminate play, then connection stability improves, but the retaining screw may become inaccessible for assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidassembly accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By positioning the adjusting means at the bottom of the first component, the invention enables access from a different dimension. This allows the retaining screw to be assembled from above while adjustment for optimal depth occurs from below, resolving the accessibility conflict.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2604868B1Method and device for connecting components
Publication Date: 2015.11.04 WIEHAG HLDG
  • EP2604868B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2604868B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2604868B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for connecting components (1, 2) via mutually engaging anchoring elements (4, 5), with a first anchoring element (4) attachable to a first component (1) and a second anchoring element (5) attachable to a second component (2), wherein the first anchoring element (4) has a support section (13) and the second anchoring element (5) has a carrier plate (25) with a mounting plane facing the second component (2) and at least one bearing recess (28) provided on the carrier plate (25) for receiving the first anchoring element (4) in a specific area, which bearing recess (28) comprises an entry section forming an insertion opening (30) on a circumferential contour of the carrier plate (25) and a bearing section with a support surface (36) extending substantially parallel to the mounting plane for bearing the support section (13).The device further comprises an adjusting means (19) by means of which, after the components (1, 2) have been connected, the first anchoring element (4) can be moved in a perpendicular direction onto the support surface (36) of the second anchoring element (5) via the mutually engaging anchoring elements (4, 5).