Cup-Shaped Protective Element for Fastening Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective elements for fastening elements anchored in hardenable compounds have limited capacity to catch escaping mass and are difficult to assemble and disassemble, leading to environmental and user contamination during the setting process.

Innovation Solution

A cup-shaped protective element with a peripheral outer wall and inner wall design that creates a receiving space for escaping mass, featuring a widening structure to prevent lateral flow and easy handling, along with a transparent and elastic inner wall for clear visibility and easy removal, respectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective element is used to catch escaping mass, then environmental contamination is prevented, but the protective element is difficult to remove after setting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental contaminationVSAvoidremoval difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective element is divided into two distinct walls: an outer wall that catches escaping mass and an inner wall that facilitates easy removal. The inner wall is designed with a smooth surface and specific geometry to prevent adhesion of setting mass to the fastening element, allowing the protective element to be easily slid off after setting without compromising the containment function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the protective element have different surface properties: the outer wall has a geometry optimized for containing escaping mass, while the inner wall has a smooth adhesion-resistant surface. This local differentiation allows the same component to simultaneously achieve mass containment and easy removal functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the protective element volume is increased to catch more escaping mass, then containment capacity is improved, but the protective element becomes more complex to handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveescaping mass capacityVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective element utilizes the radial dimension effectively by creating a bowl-shaped structure that extends outward from the fastening element. This radial expansion provides large containment volume without increasing axial length, maintaining compact dimensions and handling ease while significantly increasing the capacity to catch escaping mass in all lateral directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If the protective element is made transparent for visibility, then the setting process can be monitored, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetting process visibilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protective element is made transparent or translucent, allowing visual monitoring of the setting process without requiring complex electronic sensing systems. This optical property enables users to observe mass containment and setting progression while using simple, cost-effective transparent plastic materials that are inexpensive to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP2072836B1Protective element
Publication Date: 2011.08.31 HILTI AG
  • EP2072836B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2072836B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A protective element (11) for use with a fastening element (8) that can be anchored in a curable mass (7) has a passage point (12) defining a passage axis (13) for the fastening element (8) and a cup-shaped design with a circumferential outer wall (21).