Dovetail Bracket Mounting With Magnetic Tool-Free Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building systems lack an efficient and easy method for attaching and detaching building components from profiles without requiring tools, and existing magnetic solutions are not magnetically releasable once locked.

Innovation Solution

A building system with a profile having a dovetailed opening and a bracket featuring a bi-stable plate spring that can be biased against the profile's side walls for secure attachment and detachment, utilizing a magnet-sensitive tongue for tool-free release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a bi-stable plate spring is used to provide strong locking force, then the bracket is securely locked in the profile, but the bracket cannot be easily released

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking forceVSAvoidrelease operation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical bi-stable spring system with a magnetically controllable system. A magnet is integrated into the bracket, and a magnetically attractable material is placed in the profile, allowing the spring to be held in either stable position (locked or unlocked) through magnetic attraction rather than requiring manual manipulation of the spring mechanism itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetically attractable material as an intermediary between the magnet in the bracket and the bi-stable spring mechanism. This intermediary allows magnetic force to control the spring's position, enabling easy release by simply removing the magnetic attraction rather than manually manipulating the spring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a dovetailed profile opening is used to prevent bracket displacement, then the bracket is securely retained, but the installation process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebracket retentionVSAvoidprofile structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the retention system dynamic by using a bi-stable spring that can transition between two stable positions. The spring naturally biases the bracket against the profile walls for secure retention, but can be easily moved to an unlocked position through magnetic control, allowing the system to adapt between secure retention and easy removal states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Strength

If the side engagement members are biased against the side walls, then the bracket is securely mounted, but the insertion process requires more force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidinsertion process
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses preliminary magnetic attraction to hold the bracket in the unlocked position during insertion. The magnet attracts the magnetically attractable material in the profile, keeping the bi-stable spring in its first stable position (unlocked) throughout the insertion process, eliminating the need to force the spring against the profile walls during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 easy and secure attachment and detachment of building components without tools, providing a strong locking force and allowing for hidden mounting of wall linings and other components without damaging the profile.

Implementation Method 1

a bi-stable plate spring (5), which is pivotally connected at both ends to side engagement members (7, 7a) at the innermost edges thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a magnet-sensitive tongue for tool-free release

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3004486B1A building system and a bracket for such building system
Publication Date: 2022.12.21 NORDIC BUILD AS
  • EP3004486B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3004486B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3004486B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention concerns a building system comprising at least one profile having a bottom and two side walls defining an opening in the profile, and at least one bracket attachable to said profile, wherein the side walls and bottom of the profile form a dovetailed profile opening where the profile side walls hereby form an angle of less than 90° with the profile bottom, and wherein the bracket comprises flexible side engagement members that are adapted to be biased against the side walls of the profile for mounting the bracket therein.