Connector for use in display systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display frame connectors require significant planning, skill, and force for assembly, are prone to slacking due to wear, lack visual security indication, and increase weight and cost due to complex designs and material requirements.
Innovation Solution
A connector system with a male part featuring a cruciform head and oppositely inclined ramps for progressive tightening and alignment, allowing secure attachment with reduced rotation angle and force, and a female part with a cruciform aperture for stable engagement, reducing the need for pre-planning and minimizing weight and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional T-shaped bayonet fittings are used to join beams and node fittings, then the connector provides a secure mechanical joint, but significant force and a large rotation angle are required for assembly, increasing construction difficulty and time
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into a male part with a head and stem, and a female part with a wall and aperture. The head features four noses that engage with profiled inner faces in the wall, creating four distinct engagement positions during rotation. This segmentation allows the connector to provide secure mechanical joining while reducing the required rotation angle and assembly force compared to traditional T-shaped bayonet fittings.
2Reliability
If traditional bayonet fittings are used, then the connector provides mechanical connection, but it lacks visual indication of secure attachment, making it difficult to verify proper installation
Solution Approach 1:
The connector utilizes the visibility of the head and its four noses as they engage with the wall. As the head rotates within the aperture, the noses engage with the profiled inner faces at four distinct positions, providing visual confirmation of proper engagement. The cruciform shape of the head and the visibility of its features through the aperture allow erectors to easily verify secure attachment without additional indicators.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional connectors are used to ensure tight rigid joints, then significant force is necessary for rotation, but this increases the risk of connector wear and damage over time, reducing stability
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs dynamic engagement through rotation, where the head turns within the aperture and the four noses sequentially engage with the profiled inner faces of the wall. This dynamic engagement process distributes the connection force across four engagement points, reducing the force required at any single point and minimizing wear and damage risk compared to traditional single-point bayonet fittings.
4Productivity
If traditional connectors require large rotation angles for assembly, then the connection process becomes complex and time-consuming, but reducing the rotation angle may compromise the security of the joint
Solution Approach 1:
The head features four asymmetrically positioned noses that engage with corresponding profiled inner faces in the wall at four distinct rotational positions. This asymmetric design allows the connector to achieve secure mechanical joining with a reduced rotation angle compared to traditional T-shaped fittings, as the noses provide positive engagement at each of the four positions, ensuring joint strength while improving construction speed.
5Device complexity
If traditional bayonet fittings are used, then the connector design is relatively simple, but considerable attention and pre-planning are required during construction to ensure proper orientation and interconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design provides multi-functionality by enabling beams to be connected to node fittings in multiple orientations. The head with four noses can engage with the profiled wall at four distinct rotational positions, allowing flexible orientation during assembly without requiring precise pre-planning. This universal engagement capability reduces construction time and complexity while maintaining secure mechanical joining.
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 connector system simplifies assembly, enhances stability, reduces weight, and lowers construction time and costs by providing a secure, visually confirmable connection with reduced material usage and increased ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
the opposing faces of the wall and the noses are provided with oppositely inclined ramps which act to provide progressive tightening and alignment of the connector as the male part is rotated within the aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A connector, for display systems having a display frame formed of a plurality of beams (1), has a male fitting (3) which has a stem (8) projecting from a plate (4), and a head (9) formed of four noses which project laterally from the stem. The head (9) is inserted in a correspondingly-shaped aperture of a female node fitting and rotated into positive engagement with the inner face of the node fitting. The trailing faces of the four noses have oppositely-inclined ramps which act to provide progressive tightening and alignment of the connector as the male part is rotated within the aperture. The connector provides a stable joint and enables a firm connection to be obtained with a smaller angle of rotation and reduced engagement force.