Curved Rod Mounting Assembly With Hidden Angle Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for mounting curved shower rods require multiple mounting assemblies to accommodate varying lengths and angles, leading to increased manufacturing and maintenance costs and a compromised aesthetic appearance due to the need for large openings to accommodate pivoting mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A mounting apparatus with a base, cover, and pivotable shaft that allows the curved rod to be securely attached across a range of angles, while the cover conceals the internal components, maintaining an aesthetic appearance by minimizing the visible opening size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pivoting mechanism is used to accommodate varying rod angles, then the mounting assembly can adapt to different installations, but the opening in the cover must be large which compromises aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting mechanism is extracted from the cover and placed in the base. The base contains the pivot joint that allows angle adjustment, while the cover remains a simple decorative cap with a small opening that accommodates the rod without exposing internal mechanisms. This separation resolves the contradiction by enabling adaptability in the base while maintaining aesthetics in the cover.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the cover accommodate the pivoting mechanism (which requires large openings), the invention inverts the approach by making the base accommodate the pivoting mechanism and the cover simply cap the assembly. The functional complexity is inverted from the cover to the base, allowing the cover to maintain a clean aesthetic appearance with minimal openings.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple mounting assemblies are used for different rod lengths and angles, then each specific installation requirement can be met, but manufacturing and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly is designed as a universal system where the base contains an adjustable pivot mechanism that can accommodate multiple rod lengths and angles. The standardized base design with adjustable geometry allows a single mounting assembly type to serve multiple installation scenarios, eliminating the need for multiple specialized variants while maintaining precise fit requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The base incorporates a dynamic pivot joint that allows the mounting angle to be adjusted during installation. This dynamic capability enables a single standardized mounting assembly to adapt to various rod lengths and angles, replacing the need for multiple static, angle-specific assembly variants. The adjustability is achieved through a pivot mechanism that maintains secure mounting while accommodating angular variations.
3Shape
If the cover fully conceals internal components, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but access to the pivoting mechanism for installation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly is segmented into two distinct parts: a functional base that houses the pivoting mechanism and an aesthetic cover that conceals the base. During installation, the cover is temporarily removed or set aside to allow access to the pivot mechanism for angle adjustment. After installation is complete, the cover is reattached to provide full concealment and aesthetic appearance. This segmentation allows both accessibility during installation and concealment during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting assembly is used to mount a curved rod to a mounting surface. The mounting assembly includes a base, a guide and a cover. The base is fixed to the mounting surface by inserting screws through holes in the base and into the mounting surface. The guide fits around the base and can move along a length of the base. The cover is placed over the base and secured to the guide, such that the cover can also move along the length of the base. The mounting assembly interfaces with an end of the curved rod that approaches the mounting assembly at a given angle. Movement of the cover allows the mounting assembly to interface with ends of curved rods approaching the mounting assembly over a range of angles. The mounting assembly can include a shaft that is connected to the base and interfaces with the end of the curved rod.