Drywall Bracket with Sliding Guide for Fire-Resistant Connections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drywall construction methods fail to effectively manage relative movement between building components under high mechanical loading and fire protection conditions, leading to instability and potential fire propagation due to inadequate tensile force handling and air-permeable gaps.

Innovation Solution

A bracket with a sole plate and orthogonally fitted side wall featuring slots and elongated holes allows for precise, form-fitting guidance and slidable fastening of profiles, providing a stable and strain-resistant connection with an extended slide path, enhancing stability under tensile loading and fire protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a sliding ceiling connection is used to enable vertical movement and tolerating deformation, then the connection allows ceiling and wall profiles to move relative to each other under loading and fire conditions, but it creates an air-permeable gap that breaches fire protection and facilitates fire spread

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical movement capabilityVSAvoidfire propagation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket serves as an intermediary component between the ceiling profile and wall profile, providing a controlled connection mechanism that maintains both movement capability and fire protection. The bracket's side wall with slots and elongated holes guides the profile while maintaining a secure, air-tight connection that prevents fire propagation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the connection parameters by using a bracket with specific geometric features (slots and elongated holes) that define a controlled slide path. This allows vertical movement within defined limits while maintaining structural integrity and preventing air permeability that would compromise fire protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Length of moving object

If the distance between the upper free end of the wall profile and the ceiling profile is increased by the sliding ceiling connection, then vertical movement is enabled, but the distance of planking panel edges from the ceiling is increased creating air-permeable gaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslide path lengthVSAvoidair permeability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket acts as an intermediary that controls the distance between components. The side wall of the bracket, with its slots and elongated holes, provides a defined slide path that limits the maximum distance while maintaining air-tightness, preventing planking panel edges from creating air-permeable gaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional connection elements are used for sliding ceiling connections, then vertical movement is possible, but the C-shaped profile can completely slip out under horizontal loading and tensile forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesliding capabilityVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket serves as a more reliable intermediary connection element compared to conventional U-shaped or plaster bar solutions. The side wall with slots and elongated holes provides form-fitting guidance that prevents the C-shaped profile from slipping out completely under horizontal loading and tensile forces, while still allowing controlled vertical movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the connection parameters by using a bracket with specifically designed slots and elongated holes that define a controlled slide path. This provides form-fitting guidance that limits the profile's movement to defined boundaries, preventing complete slippage while maintaining sliding capability for vertical movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Strength

If external brackets are used to fix the wall position, then greater horizontal loads can be taken up, but assembly outlay increases and the brackets are optically conspicuous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehorizontal load capacityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the bracket with the ceiling profile into a single integrated component. The bracket is formed as part of the ceiling profile structure itself, eliminating the need for separate external brackets. This reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the ability to take up greater horizontal loads, and eliminates optical conspicuousness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11555307B2Bracket and assembly kit for connecting building components for a drywall construction and drywall constituted therewith

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 KNAUF GIPS KG

AI summary

The invention relates to a bracket for connecting components for a drywall construction, in particular a bracket for a slidable fastening, preferably a slidable ceiling-side fastening, in the framework of a drywall, preferably a bracket for a drywall with a planked, preferably multi-planked, framework. Furthermore, the invention relates to an assembly kit and a drywall with at least one such bracket, as well as the use of such a bracket in dry wall construction.