Fastening Element With Tapering Anchoring Groups

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fastening systems require a large number of screws to achieve sufficient holding force in wooden structures, leading to inefficiencies and material waste, especially when attaching wooden beams to metal profiles like beam shoes.

Innovation Solution

A fastening element with axially extending shaft sections and tapering anchoring structures of varying outer diameters, allowing for sequential penetration and increased holding force without pre-drilling, utilizing a combination of axial and tangential forces for insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional screws are used to achieve sufficient holding force in wooden structures, then the holding force requirement is met, but a large number of screws are required leading to inefficiency and material waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding forceVSAvoidnumber of screws

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft is segmented into multiple axial regions, each containing groups of anchoring structures with different outside diameters. This segmentation allows different portions of the fastening element to engage different densities of wood fibers at different depths, creating varied anchoring zones that collectively provide high holding force with a single fastener rather than multiple screws

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different axial regions of the shaft are given different local qualities through varying the outside diameters of anchoring structures. Regions closer to the tip have smaller diameters for initial penetration, while regions farther away have larger diameters for stronger anchoring. This local differentiation optimizes the function at each depth while achieving overall high holding force with reduced quantity of fasteners

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If multiple screws are used to attach wooden beams to metal profiles, then the connection strength is sufficient, but the installation process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidinstallation process

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple anchoring functions that would traditionally require multiple separate screws are merged into a single fastening element. The shaft incorporates multiple groups of anchoring structures with different outside diameters along its length, combining penetration, anchoring, and load-bearing functions in one component, thereby simplifying the installation process while maintaining connection strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If anchoring structures with larger outside diameters are used throughout the shaft, then holding force is maximized, but insertion forces become excessively high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding forceVSAvoidinsertion force

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring structures are arranged in axial sequence from tip to base, with smaller outside diameters at the tip region and progressively larger diameters toward the base. This preliminary arrangement allows the smaller-tip structures to first penetrate and create a pathway through the wood, enabling subsequent larger-diameter structures to be inserted with reduced resistance, thereby maximizing holding force while controlling insertion forces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3179115B1Fastening element with groups of anchoring elements with different outside diameters in different groups

Publication Date: 2019.06.26 WURTH INT AG

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AI summary

Fastening element (100) for insertion into a substrate (202), wherein the fastening element (100) has an axially extending shaft section (102), an end tip (104) adjoining the shaft section (102), and a plurality of groups (106, 108, 110) of anchoring structures (112) on the shaft section (102) tapering towards the end tip (104), wherein an outermost diameter is different for different groups (106, 108, 110) of anchoring structures (112).