Composite Stand-Off Bracket Structure for Lower-Cost Glass Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stand-off brackets for glass balustrades are expensive due to the high cost of stainless steel and machining/polishing processes, which hinders their widespread adoption despite the need for strength and safety compliance.
Innovation Solution
A stand-off bracket design featuring a polymeric barrel with an embedded metal bush and a metal sleeve, combined with a polymeric cap and sheet metal shell, reduces material costs while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If stand-off brackets are machined from solid stainless steel to meet safety and aesthetic standards, then strength and durability are improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining polymeric material for the barrel body with embedded metal reinforcement elements (metal bushing with internal threads and external metal sleeve). This composite construction provides the necessary strength and durability while significantly reducing material cost compared to solid stainless steel, directly resolving the technical contradiction between strength and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by strategically placing metal reinforcement elements only where structurally necessary - the metal bushing for threading and the external metal sleeve for load-bearing contact points. The polymeric body suffices for non-critical areas, optimizing the balance between strength requirements and cost reduction.
2Reliability
If larger barrel diameters are used to distribute bending stresses, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to more material required
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction allows for larger barrel diameters to be manufactured cost-effectively. The polymeric material provides the bulk volume needed for stress distribution at low cost, while embedded metal elements provide localized reinforcement. This enables larger diameters for improved reliability without the prohibitive cost increase that would occur with solid metal construction.
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 provides a cost-effective, strong, and durable stand-off bracket that meets safety standards, allowing for larger diameters and easier installation with reduced risk of glass panel fracturing, while minimizing material usage and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The bush and the sleeve may be attached to the body with a press fit
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a bracket including a barrel with a screw-threaded recess, a disk-shaped cap and a fastener that is receivable in the recess. The fastener is configured to attached the cap to the barrel in a spaced apart arrangement, when the fastener is received in the recess. The barrel comprises a body of polymeric material, a metal bush embedded in the body and defining the screw threaded recess, and a metal sleeve that extends partially around the periphery of the body.