Façade Board Fastener Geometry for Precise Plane Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fasteners for mounting façade boards to substructures do not adequately ensure precise alignment and stability in a defined plane, particularly for fibre-cement boards, and lack efficient mounting mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A fastener design comprising a support leg, fastening and bottom legs with bended portions, and flaps, which allows for precise fixation of façade boards in a defined plane, utilizing a fastening device to secure the fastener to the substructure, with bended portions enhancing stability and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a conventional fastener with simple leg structure is used to mount façade boards, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the alignment precision and stability in a defined plane are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidfastener structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastener is divided into multiple functional segments: support leg for mounting, fastening leg with opening for fastening device, bottom leg for additional support, top flap and bottom flap for plane definition and board engagement. Each segment performs a specific function to achieve precise alignment and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastener extends in multiple spatial dimensions with legs extending in top and bottom directions, and flaps extending from front and rear edges. This multi-dimensional structure provides precise positioning in three-dimensional space, ensuring the façade board is fixed in a well-defined plane.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a fastener with multiple legs and flaps is used to ensure stability and alignment, then the manufacturing precision and stability are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoidfastener manufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional elements (support leg, fastening leg, bottom leg, top flap, bottom flap) are merged into a single integrated fastener component. This unified structure provides stable mounting while simplifying manufacturing compared to assembling multiple separate parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastener performs multiple functions simultaneously: the support leg provides mounting support, the fastening leg with opening secures the fastening device, the bottom leg provides additional support, and the flaps define the mounting plane and engage with the board. This multi-functionality achieves stable positioning without requiring multiple separate components.

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

3Manufacturing precision

If existing fasteners are used for fibre-cement façade boards, then the mounting process is simple, but the fasteners do not provide adequate alignment control and plane definition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplane definition precisionVSAvoidmounting operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastener structure itself, with its specific geometry of legs and flaps, automatically defines the mounting plane and provides alignment control during the fastening operation. The flaps extend to engage with the façade board and establish a well-defined plane, while the legs provide stable support, making the alignment function inherent to the fastener design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4667678A1Fastener for a faÇade
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 SWISSPEARL GRP AG
  • EP4667678A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4667678A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4667678A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A fastener (1) for fixing a façade board (2) to a substructure (3) of a façade system (4) comprising a support leg (5) with a top side (6) and a bottom side (7); at least one fastening leg (8) extending from a rear edge (9) of said support leg (5) in a top direction (T) and having a fastening opening (10) to receive a fastening device (11), at least one bottom leg (12) extending from the rear edge (9) of said support leg (5) in a bottom direction (B), at least one top flap (13) extending from a front edge (14) of said support leg (5) in said top direction (T); and at least one bottom flap (15) from the front edge (14) of said support leg (5) in said bottom direction (B); wherein a top bended portion (16) which is bended towards said at least one top flap (13), adjoins said at least one fastening leg (8) and wherein a bottom bended portion (17) which is bended towards said at least one bottom flap (15), adjoins said at least one bottom leg (15).