Extractor Hood Clamping Device for Hidden Fastener Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Extractor hoods installed in wall cupboards or intermediate ceilings often have visible fastening means, which affect their appearance, and their complex assembly due to hard-to-access attachment points.

Innovation Solution

An extractor hood with a clamping device featuring a rotatable threaded device and a clamping element that can be moved up or down, allowing for easy installation by rotating the thread device to create a clamping effect between the housing device and the plate device, without visible fasteners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the extractor hood is attached from the outside using fasteners, then the attachment is simple, but the fastening means are visible and adversely affect the appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidappearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening means are extracted and hidden within the housing device. The clamping element is received within the housing device and is not visible from the front when the extractor hood is installed, thus removing the visual defect while maintaining the attachment function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The clamping element is nested within the housing device. The clamping element is rotatably received in the housing device and can be moved between a retracted position (hidden) and a clamping position (functional), allowing the fastening mechanism to be concealed during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Shape

If the fastening means are hidden from view, then the appearance is improved, but the assembly becomes very complex and difficult to access

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveappearanceVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping element is designed to be movable between different positions. It can rotate from a retracted position (for easy assembly and hidden appearance) to a clamping position (for secure attachment), providing dynamic functionality that simplifies both assembly and appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The clamping element serves multiple functions: it acts as a hidden fastener, provides secure attachment through clamping force, and can be actuated from the front through the operating device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the clamping element is always extended for secure clamping, then the attachment is reliable, but the fastening means remain visible and affect appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidappearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping element transitions from a static extended position to a dynamic system that can switch between retracted and clamped positions. This allows the element to be hidden during normal operation while providing reliable attachment when needed, resolving the contradiction between appearance and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 of the extractor hood in wall cupboards or intermediate ceilings without visible fastening means, providing a visually appealing solution with simplified assembly and no need for external tools.

Implementation Method 1

The thread device (6) can be rotated by means of the operating device (7), the clamping element (8) being displaceable up or down along the thread device (6), depending on the direction of rotation of the thread device (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThreaded device mechanical conversion: Screw

Implementation Method 2

rotating the thread device to create a clamping effect between the housing device and the plate device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical clamping force: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3026351B1Extractor hood and method for fixing the same
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP3026351B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3026351B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3026351B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

Extractor hood (1) comprising a housing device (2) with an intake section (3) to which a filter device (4) is assigned. The housing device (2) further comprises a clamping device (5) for fixing the housing device (2) to a plate device (100), the clamping device (5) having a rotatably received threaded device (6) with an operating device (7) and a clamping element (8 ) includes. The threaded device (6) can be rotated by means of the operating device (7) and the clamping element (8) can be moved up or down along the threaded device (6) depending on the direction of rotation of the threaded device (6). To attach the extractor hood (1), the clamping element (8) is first brought into an assembly position (16). The housing device (2) is then pushed into an opening (101) in the plate device (100) up to a clamping section (9). The clamping element (8) is then transferred from the assembly position (16) to a clamping position (17) by actuating the actuating device (7) of the thread device (6). The threaded means (6) is then rotated further, thereby displacing the clamping element (8) further down along the threaded means (6) until sufficient clamping of the plate means (100) between the clamping element (8) and the clamping section (9) occurs. consists.