Clamping Element Edge Design for Minimal Board Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floorboard systems with clamps and screws leave a significant space between boards due to the size of the screw head, compromising aesthetic appeal and increasing the risk of screw breakage under load or temperature fluctuations, and making repairs difficult.
Innovation Solution
A clamping element with a rectangular plate-like part and a bar-like edge element, where the edge element's width is equal to the screw diameter, allowing for a smaller gap between boards and accommodating different groove heights, and a connecting structure with a guiding groove and nut for secure attachment without immediate screw tightening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamp with a central screw hole is used to secure boards to beams, then the boards are firmly connected to the beams, but a significant space exists between the boards due to the size of the screw head
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a bar-like edge element that extends perpendicular to the plate-like part, creating a three-dimensional structure. The central opening passes through this edge element, allowing the screw head to be positioned within the groove depth rather than protruding between boards. This dimensional arrangement resolves the contradiction by maintaining connection strength while eliminating the aesthetic gap issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The central opening is nested within the bar-like edge element, and the screw head is nested within the groove of the board. This nested arrangement allows the screw head to be concealed within the groove depth, preventing it from creating a visible gap between boards while still providing the necessary mechanical connection strength.
2Shape
If the screw head diameter is reduced to minimize the space between boards, then the aesthetic appearance improves, but the permitted tensile force on the screw diminishes and the risk of breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the central opening through the bar-like edge element perpendicular to the plate surface, the invention creates a three-dimensional path for the screw. This allows the use of smaller diameter screws that provide sufficient tensile strength while the extended opening accommodates the screw head within the groove depth, preventing visible gaps between boards.
3Length of moving object
If the screw diameter is reduced to minimize board spacing, then the intermediate space between boards decreases, but the chance of screw breakage during assembly and use increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central opening extends through the bar-like edge element in the perpendicular dimension, creating a three-dimensional configuration. This allows smaller diameter screws to be used, which reduce the board spacing to aesthetic levels while the extended opening provides adequate structural support and screw accommodation, preventing breakage during assembly and use.
4Shape
If a clamp design is used that allows minimal board spacing, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but repair becomes difficult unless sufficient space exists for fitting a new screw
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the central opening through the bar-like edge element perpendicular to the plate surface, the invention creates a three-dimensional access path. This allows the screw to be accessed and replaced from the board surface through the edge element, providing adequate space for repair operations while maintaining minimal visible board spacing for aesthetic purposes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A clamping element comprises a plate-like part which is rectangular with a plate width and a plate length, and on each of the head sides in the plate longitudinal direction is provided with a protrusion from a first side of the plate-like part perpendicular to the plate-like element, and is provided with a central opening for receiving a screw. A protrusion lies in the centre of one of the respective head sides and has a width which is smaller than the plate width. Here, the plate-like part is provided with an edge element which extends on the first side between the protrusions and has substantially the same width as the protrusion, wherein the central opening extends through the edge element, and the width of the edge element is at least equal to the dimension of the central opening in the width direction.