Adjustable Hanger Rail for Hidden-Wire Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hangers lack adjustability after being affixed to a supporting surface, making it difficult to achieve desired orientations, especially when the hanger attaches to a hidden wire or support member, requiring users to remove and reattach fasteners for adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A hanger system with a horizontal bar, vertical bar, and sliding carriage that allows four-way adjustability after initial attachment, enabling users to adjust the orientation of supported objects without reattaching fasteners, using snap-over lips, engagement elements, and a guide with a pivotally connected flange to facilitate sliding and retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the hanger attaches to the supporting surface with a fastener in a relatively immovable manner, then the attachment is secure and stable, but the re-positioning of the hanger is thwarted unless a user undertakes the arduous task of removing and re-attaching the fastener

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidre-positioning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hanger system is divided into multiple segments: a fixed mounting portion attached to the supporting surface, and an adjustable hanger portion that can be repositioned independently. This segmentation allows the mounting to remain secure while the hanger portion can be easily adjusted without removing fasteners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hanger incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms including a carriage that can slide along a rail, and a wire support system with movable components. These dynamic elements enable the hanger to be repositioned easily after initial attachment, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and ease of re-positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Shape

If the hanger attaches to a wire or other support member that is hidden from view, then the support structure is clean and unobtrusive, but a user may have difficultly predicting the influence or variability associated with the wire and/or the additional influence or variability associated with the hidden support member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidwire position predictability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary adjustment mechanism between the hidden wire and the visible hanger components. This includes a carriage system with engagement elements that interact with the wire indirectly, allowing users to control and predict hanger behavior through visible adjustment points rather than directly manipulating the hidden wire.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct mechanical connection to the hidden wire with a more controllable mechanism. The carriage system with engagement elements and rail provides a predictable mechanical interface that substitutes for direct wire manipulation, making the system's behavior more predictable while maintaining the aesthetic benefit of hidden wiring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the hanger provides fixed positioning after attachment, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the hanger cannot be adjusted to achieve desired orientation without removing and re-attaching fasteners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehanger structure simplicityVSAvoidorientation adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hanger incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms including a carriage that can slide along a rail, and a wire support system with movable components. These dynamic elements enable the hanger to be repositioned easily after initial attachment, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and ease of re-positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hanger system is divided into multiple segments: a fixed mounting portion attached to the supporting surface, and an adjustable hanger portion that can be repositioned independently. This segmentation allows the mounting to remain secure while the hanger portion can be easily adjusted without removing fasteners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11197564B2Hanger

Publication Date: 2021.12.14 GREVE DEAN N

AI summary

A hanger, support and other component or system capable of supporting one or more objects is contemplated. The hanger may be configured to provide four-way adjustability sufficient to facilitate adjustably supporting objects after being affixed to a supporting surface and/or to facilitate adjustably supporting objects having a wire or other support member hidden from view or otherwise difficult to orientate relative to a support surface. The hanger may be configured to enable four-way re-positioning in an up, down, left or right direction, optionally while the one or more objects are supported thereon, without requiring removal or manipulation of fasteners anchoring it to a support.