Ceiling Suspension Hook Assembly That Prevents Eyelet Unhooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fasteners with hooks for suspension elements can be unhooked when the suspension element is closed like an eyelet, leading to instability and potential detachment.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a straight shank with an expanding element and a hook that includes specific radial and parallel planes to ensure the hook's free end is seated within the anchor base, preventing detachment by ensuring the suspension element's diameter is greater than the hook's opening, and utilizing an expansion sleeve that spreads radially upon axial movement to secure the fastener in the anchor hole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hook's free end is positioned beyond the first radial plane (allowing easy installation), then the ease of operation is improved, but the suspension element can be unhooked leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the free end of the hook within the first radial plane during manufacturing. This ensures that when the fastener is installed, the hook's free end will automatically be at the correct position relative to the anchor base, preventing detachment without requiring complex installation procedures. The setting depth marking further guides the installer to achieve the correct insertion depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the first radial plane and setting depth marking - that mediates between the hook position and the anchor base. This intermediary reference system ensures the hook's free end is positioned correctly without requiring complex measurements or adjustments during installation, thus maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliability.
2Reliability
If the fastener is inserted deeper into the anchor hole to prevent unhooking, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to precise positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual markers (setting depth marking) on the fastener to indicate the correct insertion depth. This visual indicator system simplifies the positioning process by providing a clear, easily identifiable reference point that ensures the hook's free end is positioned within the first radial plane, reducing the complexity of precise positioning requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking the correct insertion depth on the fastener during manufacturing. This eliminates the need for complex measurements or adjustments during installation, as the installer simply needs to insert the fastener until the setting depth marking indicates the correct position, thus reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable attachment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hook's clear width is made larger to accommodate larger suspension elements, then the adaptability is improved, but the smallest diameter of the hook increases making detachment more possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by transitioning from a two-dimensional consideration (hook clear width) to a three-dimensional solution. The key insight is that the critical factor is not just the hook's clear width, but the position of the free end relative to the anchor base in the third dimension (depth). By positioning the free end within the first radial plane, the patent ensures that even hooks with larger clear widths cannot be used to detach suspension elements, thus maintaining reliability while preserving adaptability.
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 fastener securely fastens into the anchor hole, preventing the suspension element from being unhooked, ensuring stability and secure attachment even when the anchor hole widens due to expansion or cracking.
Implementation Method 1
an expanding element that can be loosened by an axial movement in relation to the shank can be spread open, so that the fastener can be fastened in the anchor hole by spreading the spreader element
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention proposes to design a hook (3) of a fastener (1) for a ceiling suspension in such a way and to anchor the fastener (1) so deeply in a ceiling that the distance between a free end (13) of the hook (3) and the ceiling is so small that an eyelet of a hanger (16) cannot be unhooked from the hook (3) of the fastener (1).