Base Shoe Dovetail Sealing and Taper Plate Release for Glass Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass panel installation systems pose safety risks due to the need for installers to lean over installed railings to install weather seals and face difficulties in removing stuck taper plates, leading to increased installation time and potential injuries.
Innovation Solution
The improved base shoe design features a dovetail groove for pre-installation of weather seals and a continuous setting strip, along with a taper plate configuration allowing easy separation, ensuring safety and efficiency during installation and removal processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If weather seals are installed after glass panel insertion, then installation flexibility is maintained, but installer safety deteriorates due to leaning over installed railings
Solution Approach 1:
The base shoe is designed with a pre-formed recess that accommodates the weather seal before glass panel insertion. This preliminary configuration allows the weather seal to be installed in a safe position before the railing structure is completed, eliminating the need for installers to lean over installed railings.
2Stability of the object's composition
If taper plates are driven tightly to secure panels, then panel stability improves, but plate removal difficulty increases due to sticking
Solution Approach 1:
The base shoe is designed with a recess that segments the taper plate installation area, creating a defined space between the taper plate and the front face of the base shoe. This segmentation allows the taper plate to be securely driven for panel stability while maintaining a gap that facilitates easy removal when needed.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cement is used to hold panels in base shoe, then panel securing is achieved, but installation time increases due to quick setting and alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces cement-based chemical bonding with a mechanical securing system using taper plates and spacers. The taper plates are driven into the base shoe to clamp the glass panel against the spacers, providing secure panel holding without the time-consuming alignment and setting requirements of cement.
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
The solution enhances safety by requiring weather seals to be installed before panel insertion, reducing the risk of falls and simplifies the removal of stuck taper plates, thereby reducing installation time and improving overall efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The spacers are made of plastic and serve to prevent the glass panel from directly contacting the aluminum wall or bottom surface of the base shoe
Implementation Method 2
When the taper plates are driven together, the glass-side plate slides along the length of the stationary shoe-side plate. As the taper plates are driven to their fully overlapped configuration, compressive force builds up between the taper plates, glass panel, spacer and the walls of the base shoe so as to secure the base shoe to the glass panel
Implementation Method 3
The spacers may be attached to the base shoe by means of double-sided adhesive tape
Data Source
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AI summary
An improved base shoe (12) for use with the panel installation and removal system described in U.S. Patents Nos. 8, 122,654 and 8,201,366 is presented. The improved base shoe (12) featuring dovetail grooves (22) for use with a safety-seal weather seal (24), wherein the safety-seal weather seal (24) must be installed prior to installing a glass panel (30). The safety-seal weather seal (24) eliminates a safety risk incurred by installers who attempt to install a press in seal (26) at an outboard base shoe to glass panel interface of an installed panel (30) and base shoe (12). In an alternative embodiment, the improved base shoe (12) features a recess (66) for use with taper plates (62) having a continuous projection (64) along an upper surface. The base shoe (12) and taper plates (62) are configured so as to provide a prying surface between the projection (64) on the taper plates (62) and a wall (18) of the base shoe (12).