Decorative Flange Nut Assembly for Non-Rotating Carriage Bolt Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decorative hardware assemblies are not well-suited for use with carriage bolts and other fasteners lacking engageable features, and they are often expensive and difficult for conventional consumers to install due to the need for special skills and equipment.
Innovation Solution
A decorative flange nut assembly featuring a washer/nut member with inserts that prevent rotation of carriage bolts and accommodate different fastener sizes, including a disc-shaped base plate with a nut-shaped projection and a top cap that engages axially through annular lips or recessed channels for secure retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If actual antique hardware components or reproductions are used, then aesthetic design requirements are met, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware assembly is divided into separate functional components: a decorative cap providing aesthetic appearance, and a functional washer/nut member providing fastening capability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the cap for aesthetics and the washer/nut for function - reducing overall cost while maintaining both requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using expensive antique hardware components, the patent uses a decorative cap that copies or imitates the aesthetic appearance of antique hardware. This provides the desired visual effect without the high cost of actual antique components or high-quality reproductions.
2Shape
If actual antique hardware components are used, then aesthetic design requirements are met, but installation difficulty increases due to special skills and equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the decorative cap from the functional washer/nut member, the patent allows the functional components to be installed using conventional fastening methods, while the decorative cap can be attached separately. This reduces installation complexity compared to working with integrated antique hardware components that may require specialized techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The washer/nut member acts as an intermediary between the bolt and the decorative cap. It provides a standard interface for conventional fastening while supporting the decorative element, simplifying the overall installation process compared to directly installing antique hardware components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a decorative flange nut assembly is designed to accommodate different fastener sizes, then versatility increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washer/nut member is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate different fastener sizes. The through opening and engagement features are configured to work with various bolt diameters and types, allowing a single assembly design to serve multiple fastening applications without requiring size-specific variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent accommodates different fastener sizes by allowing parameter variations in the through opening dimensions and engagement features while maintaining the same basic assembly structure. This enables versatility across different fastener sizes without fundamentally changing the device design, thus avoiding excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A hardware apparatus includes a washer/nut member comprising a disc-shaped base plate with a nut-shaped projection extending therefrom, wherein the nut-shaped projection includes a through passage to the disc-shaped base plate and the disc-shaped base plate includes a through opening aligned with the through passage. An insert is positionable within the through passage of the nut-shaped projection, the insert including a disc-shaped flange, a projection at one side of the flange, and a passage through the flange and the projection, wherein the projection is engageable in the through opening, wherein a perimeter shape of the projection is configured to cooperate with a perimeter shape of the through opening to prevent rotation of the insert relative to the washer/nut member.