Ribbed Architectural Bracket for Flexible Wall-Frame Fixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional architectural brackets face limitations in strength and flexibility of arrangement, particularly in steel and reinforced concrete constructions, restricting their use in certain building structures.

Innovation Solution

The architectural bracket features a first and second fixing portion with protruding rib and side-wall portions, allowing for multiple contact points and flexible orientation, enhancing strength and stability during wall construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional brackets are used with fixed structural design, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different building structures and arrangement flexibility are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearrangement flexibilityVSAvoidbracket structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is divided into multiple functional portions: a first fixing portion for attachment to the building frame, a second fixing portion for attachment to the fixation object, and multiple protruding portions (rib portion, first side-wall portion, second side-wall portion) that create multiple contact points. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently while providing versatile mounting options for different building structures and fixation object arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If bracket strength is increased to endure construction operations and hold wall structure, then structural reliability is improved, but weight and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebracket strengthVSAvoidbracket structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket extends in multiple dimensions from the base first fixing portion, with the second fixing portion extending in a first direction and multiple protruding portions extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. This multi-dimensional configuration distributes structural loads across different spatial axes, enhancing strength and stability without requiring excessive material or complex internal structures.

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

3Reliability

If multiple protruding portions are added to create multiple contact points, then stability and strength are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact stabilityVSAvoidbracket manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rib portion, first side-wall portion, and second side-wall portion are integrated as continuous extensions from the base first fixing portion, forming a unified structural element rather than separate components. This merging approach ensures structural integrity and load distribution across all contact points while simplifying manufacturing, as the entire bracket can be produced as a single piece or with minimal assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3933136B1Architectural bracket, building wall structure, and board material construction method
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 NICHIHA CORP
  • EP3933136B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3933136B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3933136B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an architectural bracket that has an improved strength, and is suitable for realizing a high degree of freedom in terms of the arrangement relationship with a fixation object in construction, as well as a building wall structure and a plank member construction method that use the architectural bracket. An architectural bracket X1 includes a first fixing portion 10 that includes a surface 11 for coming into contact with a building frame, and a second fixing portion 20 that extends from an end of the first fixing portion 10 to a side opposite to the surface 11, so as to intersects with the first fixing portion 10. The second fixing portion 20 includes a base portion 21 that includes a surface 21A, a rib portion 22, a first side-wall portion 23, and a second side-wall portion 24. The rib portion 22 protrudes from the base portion 21, and includes, at a protruding end thereof, a surface 22A. The first side-wall portion 23 protrudes from an end of the base portion 21 in the width direction W of the base portion 21 to the same side as the side to which the rib portion 22 protrudes. The second side-wall portion 24 protrudes from the other end of the base portion 21 in the width direction W to the same side as the side to which the rib portion 22 protrudes.