Adjustable Wall Assembly With Seamless Cleanable Facade

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wall assemblies in healthcare environments face challenges with exposed surfaces and gaps that facilitate contaminant accumulation, difficulty in cleaning, and lack of adjustability, which affect aesthetics and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A modular wall assembly featuring horizontally extending rails with vertically extending stiles and adjustable connector members that allow for seamless integration of interface components, enabling vertical and lateral adjustment, and a monolithic façade that prevents contaminant penetration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If rails are mounted to structural walls to maximize floor space, then floor space for device movement is increased, but gaps and exposed surfaces are created where fluids and contaminants can accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor spaceVSAvoidcontaminant accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wall assembly is divided into modular interface components (tiles, cabinets, shelves) that can be independently positioned and configured on the rails, allowing the system to adapt to different spatial requirements while maintaining a continuous façade that prevents contaminant accumulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple interface components are combined into a unified wall-mounted assembly where the stiles and connectors create a continuous, seamless structure that eliminates gaps between components, merging individual elements into a cohesive unit that prevents fluid and contaminant penetration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If interface components are mounted on rails, then floor space is maximized, but cleaning and sanitization become difficult due to irregular surfaces and gaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor spaceVSAvoidcleaning and sanitization

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The interface components are designed with overlapping edges and mating surfaces that merge into a continuous, seamless façade, eliminating irregular surfaces and gaps where contaminants could accumulate, thereby facilitating easy cleaning and sanitization while maintaining the wall-mounted configuration that maximizes floor space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Area of stationary object

If components are positioned adjacent each other on rails, then space is utilized efficiently, but the appearance becomes uneven and gaps are created for contaminant accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidappearance uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The interface components are designed with asymmetric overlapping edges where the lower edge of one component overlaps the upper edge of the adjacent component, creating a uniform interlocking appearance that eliminates gaps and ensures consistent visual appearance across all components while maintaining efficient space utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

4Device complexity

If vertical position of components on rails is fixed, then installation is simplified, but adjustability and reconfiguration capability are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation complexityVSAvoidvertical position adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connector members are designed with adjustable mechanisms that allow the vertical position of interface components to be dynamically changed after installation, enabling reconfiguration to accommodate different equipment heights or layout requirements while maintaining a secure, fixed appearance during normal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

5Device complexity

If lateral position of components relative to wall is fixed, then installation is simplified, but ability to adjust alignment and positioning is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation complexityVSAvoidlateral position adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connector members incorporate lateral adjustment mechanisms that allow the interface components to be positioned at different horizontal distances from the wall after installation, enabling alignment adjustments to match various equipment depths or aesthetic preferences while maintaining a secure, fixed position during normal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8333038B2Wall mounted assembly

Publication Date: 2012.12.18 MILLERKNOLL INC

AI summary

A wall assembly includes at least one horizontally extending rail having a rear surface adapted to engage the wall. A plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending stiles are coupled to the rail, with the stiles disposed forwardly of the rear surface of the rail. A plurality of interface components are coupled to the plurality of stiles. In various embodiments, the stiles may be interconnected to draw together adjacent interface components. The interface components also may include overlapping upper and lower edges. The stiles may be vertically and/or horizontally (laterally and longitudinally) adjustable relative to the rail. A lock member may be provided to secure at least one of the stiles to the rail. Various systems and methods of assembly and use are also provided.