Ball-Joint Wall Bracket for Uneven Surface Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wall brackets struggle to adapt to uneven surfaces, requiring additional shims for installation and limiting their application, especially in corner mounting scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A wall bracket design featuring a ball joint with a ball socket and ball head, allowing a swivel angle of up to 50°, enabling flexible alignment and compensation for surface unevenness without the need for shims, and a locking mechanism to secure the position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid connection between anchor element and fastening element is used, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability to uneven surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidadaptability to uneven surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The ball joint connection allows dynamic adjustment of the fastening element relative to the anchor element, enabling the system to adapt to uneven wall surfaces while maintaining structural integrity through controlled movement rather than rigid fixation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional shims are used to compensate for surface unevenness, then adaptability to uneven surfaces is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to uneven surfacesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ball joint integrates the adaptation function directly into the connection mechanism between anchor and fastening elements, eliminating the need for separate shim components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability to uneven surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a ball joint with large swivel angle is used, then ease of alignment is improved, but stability under tensile force deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of alignmentVSAvoidstability under tensile force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The ball socket geometry is designed with specific local characteristics - a narrow opening that restricts movement in certain directions while allowing alignment rotation, creating different mechanical properties in different orientations to simultaneously enable ease of alignment and stability under load

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates easy installation on uneven surfaces, simplifies alignment, and allows use as a corner connector, ensuring secure fixation without additional components.

Implementation Method 1

The bearing section on the anchor element side and the bearing section on the fastening element side form a ball joint with a ball socket and a ball head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBall joint mechanism: Ball

Implementation Method 2

The contact surface on the socket side has the shape of a spherical segment, and the contact surface on the ball head side also has the shape of a spherical segment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpherical contact: Ball

Data Source

PatentEP4067586B1Wall support
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP4067586B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4067586B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4067586B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A wall bracket (1) comprises an anchor element (2) with a fastening section (3) for fastening the anchor element (2) to a supporting structure and with a bearing section (4) on the anchor element side, and a fastening element (5) extending along a central axis (M) with a bearing section (6) on the fastening element side and with a fastening section (7) for fastening a sanitary element, wherein the fastening element (5) and the anchor element (2) are connected to each other via the respective bearing sections (4, 6), wherein the anchor element (2) has a rear surface (8) with which the anchor element (2) can be placed on the supporting structure and a front surface (9) from which the fastening element (5) projects, and wherein the bearing section (4) on the anchor element side and the bearing section (6) on the fastening element side form a ball joint (10) with a ball socket (11) and a ball head (12).