Facade Fastening Clip with Thermal Break and Spring Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices for facade elements, such as glass panels, face challenges in providing reliable and stable mounting, particularly in absorbing transverse forces and heat transfer, while maintaining structural integrity and insulation.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device featuring a retaining clip made of spring sheet metal that engages with the frame at an angle, providing preload and absorbing forces, combined with an adhesive layer and heat-insulating elements to enhance retention and reduce heat transfer, and utilizing a U-shaped anchor element for connecting adjacent frames.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a single retaining clip is used to fasten the facade element, then the device complexity is low, but the mounting stability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple retaining clips are connected to each other via connecting clips to form an integrated fastening system. The connecting clips join the retaining clips at predetermined positions, creating a combined structure that provides enhanced mounting stability while maintaining reasonable device complexity through systematic integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If the retaining clip is made from spring sheet metal with bends, then the preload and force absorption are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce absorption capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining clip is formed from spring sheet metal with specific bend radii and angles that optimize its elastic properties. The geometric parameters of the bends are carefully designed to provide the necessary preload and force absorption capability while remaining manufacturable with standard precision capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If adhesive layers and heat-insulating layers are added between the retaining clip and facade element, then the heat transfer is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer reductionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A composite structure is created by combining the metal retaining clip with adhesive layers and heat-insulating layers. This multi-material approach reduces heat transfer from the metal frame to the facade element while the layers are integrated into the existing fastening structure, minimizing the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If multiple retaining clips are connected by connecting clips, then the mounting stability is improved, but the quantity of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidquantity of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is segmented into modular components: retaining clips positioned at specific locations and connecting clips joining them. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high mounting reliability through distributed fastening points while managing component quantity through systematic placement and potential reuse of standard connecting clip designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution effectively stabilizes facade elements by absorbing transverse forces and reducing heat transfer, while maintaining structural integrity and insulation, ensuring reliable and efficient mounting of panel-shaped facade elements on frames.

Implementation Method 1

The retaining clip is preferably made from a spring sheet metal, which can have a certain width and results in a preload due to bends or arched sections when the retaining clip is elastically deformed when the retaining clip is inserted into the fastening device.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

If an adhesive layer, an adhesive tape and/or a heat-insulating layer is arranged between the leg of the retaining clip that overlaps the front side of the facade element and the surface of the facade element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

an adhesive layer, an adhesive tape and/or a heat-insulating layer is arranged between the leg of the retaining clip that overlaps the front side of the facade element and the surface of the facade element, in order to support the retention of the retaining clip on the facade element on the one hand and its heat transfer on the other reduce the frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2586954B1Fixing device for façade elements
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 LINDNER FASSADEN GMBH
  • EP2586954B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2586954B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2586954B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The device has a metal frame (2) arranged at a rear side of a plate-like facade component (1) and a thermal bar (5) made of thermal conduction reducing material i.e. plastic, and L-shaped in a cross-section. The thermal bar is fastened at the metal frame with a leg (5.1) running transverse to a plane of the facade component. The thermal bar is held with a distant leg (5.2) at the metal frame. A load receiving metal bracket (6) i.e. spring element, is arranged between the frame and an outer side of the facade component. The bracket is covered by the thermal bar and made of spring steel.