Construction Element With Grooved Retaining Element For Safe Glass Sheet Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing glass floor and wall construction elements require frequent replacement due to wear, which is time-consuming and hazardous, as the upper transparent sheet must be broken to remove the seal and adhesive, posing safety risks and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A construction element with a retaining element on one sheet and an adhesive product on the other, where the adhesive forms a receiving groove that hardens to secure the sheets together, allowing for easy detachment without damaging the retaining element, using materials like thermoplastic polymers and curable polymers that harden from uncured to cured states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the upper transparent sheet is broken to remove the seal and adhesive, then the sheets can be separated, but safety risks and inefficiencies occur

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSheet replacement processVSAvoidSafety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing system is segmented into a retaining element with groove and an adhesive product with anchoring part, allowing the adhesive to be extracted independently from the retaining element. This segmentation enables safe removal of the upper sheet without breaking it, as the adhesive can be pulled out through the groove while the retaining element remains intact on the lower sheet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If the upper transparent sheet is broken to remove the seal and adhesive, then the sheets can be separated, but maintenance time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSheet replacementVSAvoidMaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive product is designed to be extractable from the retaining element's groove. During maintenance, the adhesive can be pulled out through the groove while the retaining element remains on the lower sheet, allowing quick replacement of the upper sheet without time-consuming breaking or cutting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining element with groove and anchoring part is pre-installed on the lower sheet before assembly. This preliminary arrangement facilitates easy adhesive extraction and sheet replacement during maintenance, eliminating the need for complex removal procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the adhesive product is retained by the anchoring part, then lateral and transverse displacement is prevented, but the adhesive must be extractable without damaging the retaining element

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSheet positioning stabilityVSAvoidMaterial compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining element and adhesive product are made of compatible materials with appropriate mechanical properties. The adhesive can be extracted from the groove by deforming either the retaining element or adhesive, or both, without damaging the retaining element. This material parameter selection ensures both stable fixation during use and easy extraction during maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables quick and safe replacement of glass sheets by allowing the adhesive to be extracted without damaging the retaining element, reducing maintenance time and ensuring safety by preventing lateral or transverse displacement of the sheets.

Implementation Method 1

The hardening of the adhesive product can result from a chemical reaction or from cooling. The chemical reaction is in particular a polymerization and/or crosslinking reaction initiated by at least contact with humidity in the air, heating, radiation, or a mixture between two previously separated components.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction:

Implementation Method 2

The chemical reaction is in particular a polymerization and/or crosslinking reaction initiated by at least contact with humidity in the air, heating, radiation, or a mixture between two previously separated components.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

The chemical reaction is in particular a polymerization and/or crosslinking reaction initiated by at least contact with humidity in the air, heating, radiation, or a mixture between two previously separated components.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking:

Implementation Method 4

an adhesive product (30) adhering to the second sheet (14), the retaining element (20) forming a receiving groove (28) that can be filled by the adhesive product (30) in an uncured state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 5

Those skilled in the art will know how to choose appropriate materials for the retaining element and the adhesive product, depending in particular on the shape of the retaining element, so that the two parts can be detached from each other by deformation of the retaining element and/or of the adhesive product in the hardened state.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3510212B1Construction element
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 SAINT GOBAIN VITRAGE SA
  • EP3510212B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3510212B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3510212B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4C

AI summary

The invention relates to a construction element (10), in particular for a floor, staircase or wall, which comprises at least a first sheet (12) and a second sheet (14) stacked and separated from one another, in a stacking direction (Z), and means (20, 30) for fastening the first (12) and second sheets (14) to one another, arranged between said sheets. The fastening means (20, 30) comprise at least one retaining element (20) attached to the first sheet (12) and at least one adhesive product (30) adhering to the second sheet (14), the retaining element (20) forming a receiving groove (28) which can be filled with the adhesive product (30) in a non-hardened state and having at least one anchoring portion (24, 26) suitable for retaining the adhesive product (30) in a hardened state. The retaining element (20) and the adhesive product (30) are each made of a material which allows the adhesive product (30) in the hardened state to be removed from said groove (28) without damaging the retaining element (20).