Deck Clip with Elastic Plates for Assembly and Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deck installation methods face issues such as limited elastic deformation of latching protrusions, structural vulnerabilities, increased manufacturing costs due to separate accommodation grooves, and difficulty in accommodating construction errors, leading to potential damage and separation of decks.

Innovation Solution

A deck installation structure using clip members with detachable guide protrusions and center wings on elastic plates that spread in both directions, providing elastic support and allowing convenient assembly and disassembly, while eliminating the need for separate accommodation grooves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a separate accommodation groove is formed for screw coupling, then the screw can be coupled through the hole, but the manufacturing cost increases and the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the screw-coupling hole and the accommodation groove into a single integrated hole structure. The hole is positioned to accommodate both the screw coupling function and the driver insertion function, eliminating the need for a separate accommodation groove. This reduces manufacturing steps, lowers production costs, and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining both functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If the latching protrusion is made rigid for strong latching, then the latching force is strong, but the elastic deformation is limited making assembly difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatching forceVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces elasticity to the latching protrusion, transforming it from a rigid structure to a dynamic one. The latching protrusion is designed with elastic properties that allow it to deform during assembly and disassembly operations, facilitating easy installation and removal. Once assembled, the elastic force maintains a strong latching connection, thus achieving both strong latching and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the deck is firmly fixed to prevent separation, then the stability is improved, but the assembly and disassembly operations become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeck stabilityVSAvoidassembly and disassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs elastic components (elastic plates and latching protrusions) that provide dynamic fixing characteristics. During normal use, the elastic components maintain firm fixation to ensure deck stability. During assembly and disassembly, the elastic components can be temporarily deformed to release the fixation, allowing easy operation. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If the matching position is not accurately located, then construction errors are not accommodated, but precise positioning increases manufacturing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidpositioning structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the hole at the center of the elastic plate, creating a symmetric and equipotential positioning structure. This central positioning naturally accommodates minor construction errors and variations without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms. The symmetric design simplifies manufacturing while ensuring accurate positioning and balanced load distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

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 structure prevents deck separation, reduces production costs, and enhances stability by locating the matching position at the deck's middle point, thereby preventing breakage from external forces.

Implementation Method 1

first and second elastic plates in which elastic forces to spread in both directions of a clip member are applied, respectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4575091A1Deck installation structure using clip members for deck installation
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 NAMGUNG SUHYEON
  • EP4575091A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4575091A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4575091A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an aspect of the present invention, a deck installation structure using clip members may be provided, the deck installation structure comprising: base frames spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals to be installed parallel to each other in the horizontal direction; clip members fixed at configured intervals along the longitudinal direction of the base frames; and a deck installed in the longitudinal direction on the base frames to be coupled and supported by the fixed clips, wherein the clip member comprises: a base plate screw-coupled to an upper portion of the base frame; a first elastic plate which is bent and extended upward from one end of the base plate and provides an elastic force to spread outward; a second elastic plate which is bent and extended upward from the other end of the base plate and provides an elastic force to spread outward on the opposite side of the first elastic plate; a detachable guide protrusion bent outward to have a triangular or hemispherical shape at an end of the first elastic plate to be coupled to a detachable guide groove provided on one side of the deck; and a center wing bent laterally at an end of the second elastic plate to be fitted into a center groove provided on the other side of the deck.