Facade Panel Fastening Device with Hidden Pin and Corner Bracket
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspended panel facades face challenges with visible screws detracting from aesthetic appeal and compromising structural integrity due to drilling and stress concentration, particularly with heavy decorative panels.
Innovation Solution
A fastening device comprising a corner bracket with snap-on means and a stirrup, allowing discreet attachment of panels to a supporting structure using a pin, which includes elastic elements for stability and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If screws are used to attach panels to the supporting structure, then the attachment strength is sufficient to hold heavy panels, but the screws become visible and detract from aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The visible screw heads are extracted from the panel surface and relocated to the supporting structure side. The corner bracket attaches to the panel corner, and the pin passes through the bracket into the supporting structure, hiding the fastening elements from the front view while maintaining attachment strength.
Solution Approach 2:
A corner bracket serves as an intermediary element between the panel and the supporting structure. This bracket absorbs the visual impact of the fastening system, allowing the panel to maintain its aesthetic appearance while the bracket and pin provide the necessary mechanical connection.
2Strength
If holes are drilled through the panel for screw attachment, then the screws can be securely fastened, but the panel structure is weakened and stress is concentrated
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening holes are extracted from the panel and relocated to the supporting structure. The corner bracket attaches to the panel corner without requiring holes through the panel, and the pin passes through the bracket into the supporting structure, eliminating stress concentration in the panel while maintaining secure fastening.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of passing fasteners through the panel into the supporting structure, the system is inverted: the corner bracket attaches to the panel corner, and the pin passes through the bracket into the supporting structure. This reverses the drilling location from panel to supporting structure, preserving panel integrity.
3Strength
If traditional fastening devices are used, then the attachment is secure, but the assembly process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into distinct functional elements: a corner bracket for panel attachment, a pin for structural connection, and snap-on means for quick assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and enables faster, more straightforward assembly compared to traditional integrated fastening systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap-on means enable the corner bracket to self-align and self-secure to the panel corner without requiring additional tools or complex adjustment procedures. This self-service mechanism significantly accelerates the assembly process while maintaining secure attachment.
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 device provides a strong, easy-to-assemble, and visually discreet solution that withstands stress and enhances safety, maintaining the facade's structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
The device may further include an elastic element, disposed, in the assembled state, between the corner fitting and the bearing surface of the bracket, and compressed when the panel is in place. The elastic element keeps the panel in compression within the bracket.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for fastening a panel (1) to a bearing structure (110) of a façade (100) with suspended panels, comprising: - means (3) for fastening to the bearing structure (110), having an aperture (31) configured to cooperate with a pin (5), - a pin (5), characterized in that it further comprises: - a corner fitting (7), comprising latching means (11) arranged on the opposite side to the panel (1) once assembled, - a yoke (9), comprising: * a bearing surface (17) for bearing against the panel (1), * fingers (15) configured to engage with an edge of the panel (1), * a hole (25) forming a passage for the pin (5) in the bearing surface (17), * latching means (19) which are complementary to the latching means (11) of the corner fitting (7), the pin (5) passing through the yoke (9), leading into the aperture (31) and being attached to the means (3) for fastening to the bearing structure (110) in the assembled state.