Base Shoe Assembly With Preinstalled Seals and Removable Taper Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass panel railing systems face challenges in safe and efficient installation, particularly with the Taper-Loc system, where installers risk falling while installing weather seals and taper plates can become stuck, complicating removal and increasing installation time.
Innovation Solution
The improved shoe assembly features a dovetail groove for pre-installation of weather seals and a continuous setting strip replacing individual spacers, along with a taper plate design allowing easy separation from the base shoe, enhancing safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If weather seals are installed after panel insertion, then installation flexibility is maintained, but installer safety deteriorates due to falling risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring weather seals to be installed in the base shoe before the glass panel is inserted. This sequence forces critical safety components to be in place before the installer works at height, eliminating the need to lean over installed railings and preventing falls while maintaining installation simplicity through the pre-configured base shoe design
2Stability of the object's composition
If taper plates are designed to clamp securely, then panel stability improves, but removal difficulty increases due to plates becoming stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the surface properties of the taper plates through embossing or debossing patterns. These surface variations reduce friction and prevent the plates from becoming stuck in the base shoe, allowing easy removal and reuse while maintaining sufficient clamping stability during installation through the tapered geometry
3Ease of manufacture
If individual spacers are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but installation time increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by consolidating multiple individual spacers into a single continuous setting strip that spans the width of the base shoe. This unified component maintains the spacer function of supporting and positioning the glass panel while eliminating the need to install multiple separate pieces, significantly reducing installation time and improving productivity
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.