Adjustable Support Bracket Structure for Uneven Wall Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in accurately mounting modular articles like display units on uneven walls, particularly those made of bricks or concrete, where drill deviation and wall unevenness complicate the precise alignment of multiple holes required for secure fixation, often necessitating time-consuming adjustments and additional costly components.

Innovation Solution

A support structure featuring a support bracket with an oversized opening and a support element that acts as a washer, allowing for adjustable positioning and direct support, enabling accurate alignment and securement of the bracket on a wall in a single operation, even on uneven surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hand drilling is used to form holes in the wall, then the drilling operation is simple and quick, but the drill bit deviates from the chosen location due to inaccuracy of alignment and wall composition differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling speedVSAvoidhole position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing templates that pre-mark the exact positions of multiple holes before drilling begins. This allows the drill operator to quickly locate each hole position without needing to maintain high precision throughout the drilling process, as the positions are predetermined and clearly marked on the template.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses templates as an intermediary tool between the drilling operation and the wall. The template serves as a mediator that translates the desired hole positions into visible markings on the wall surface, facilitating accurate positioning without requiring the drill itself to be highly precise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If multiple holes are drilled in an array to support heavy articles, then the article can be securely mounted, but the requirement for correct alignment of each hole becomes more stringent and difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidarray alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing templates that pre-mark the exact positions of multiple holes before drilling begins. This allows the drill operator to quickly locate each hole position without needing to maintain high precision throughout the drilling process, as the positions are predetermined and clearly marked on the template.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the mounting system into separate components: templates for positioning, drill bits for hole formation, and fixings for securing. Each component has a specific function, and the templates handle the positioning task independently, allowing the drilling and fixing operations to proceed without requiring high precision from each individual step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the wall surface is uneven, then mounting on brick or concrete walls is possible, but correct alignment of modular articles becomes more difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewall type compatibilityVSAvoidarticle alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing templates that can be adapted to specific wall surfaces. The templates are designed to conform to the local characteristics of the wall being mounted on, allowing accurate hole positioning even on uneven surfaces. Each template can be customized or adjusted to match the specific wall geometry at the mounting location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Area of stationary object

If modular articles are mounted in an array, then large-area displays can be created, but the relative positioning of adjacent articles must be precisely controlled to avoid gaps and misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidrelative positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing templates that pre-mark the exact positions of multiple holes before drilling begins. This allows the drill operator to quickly locate each hole position without needing to maintain high precision throughout the drilling process, as the positions are predetermined and clearly marked on the template.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the mounting system into separate components: templates for positioning, drill bits for hole formation, and fixings for securing. Each component has a specific function, and the templates handle the positioning task independently, allowing the drilling and fixing operations to proceed without requiring high precision from each individual step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2791570B1Support structure for an article, method of mounting the support structure, and support bracket
Publication Date: 2018.04.11 BARCO NV
  • EP2791570B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2791570B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2791570B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a support structure for an article. In particular, the invention relates to a support structure for mounting modular articles such as display units and the like upon a wall. The support structure comprises a support bracket (1), the support bracket having at least one opening (15), the opening being sized to accommodate a fixing (4) by which the support bracket may be secured to a wall (3), the opening being larger than the fixing whereby the position of the support bracket (1) may be adjusted relative to the fixing (4). The support structure also comprises a support element (2), the support element having a dimension (d) which is larger than the opening (15), the support element having a fixing hole (14) therethrough, the distance between the fixing hole (14) and the periphery of the support element (2) being non-uniform. The support bracket (1) has a support surface (12) adapted for engagement by the periphery of the support element (2). The invention also provides a method of mounting the support structure, and a support bracket for use in the structure and method.