Fastening Assembly With Resilient Support For Profiled Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening assemblies for profiled elements with flanges struggle with accommodating anchoring members of varying thicknesses and tolerances, which complicates mass production and assembly efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fastening assembly featuring a resilient support with spring members that provide a stop for anchoring members, allowing for adjustable thicknesses and tolerances, and a clamping mechanism that includes a washer element and spring part for secure fixation, enabling easy assembly and adaptation to different load-bearing capacities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid support structure is used for the anchoring member, then the assembly provides stable clamping force, but it cannot accommodate anchoring members of different thicknesses and tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates resilient elements (springs) that allow the rigid support body to dynamically adapt to different anchoring member thicknesses while maintaining stable clamping force. The springs provide controlled deflection to accommodate thickness variations but restore sufficient force for reliable clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient support elements change their physical state (compression/extension) to accommodate varying anchoring member thicknesses. By allowing the support parameters (spring compression, contact position) to vary within a controlled range, the system adapts to different thicknesses while maintaining functional stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If custom support structures are designed for each anchoring member thickness, then precise fit and clamping are achieved, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal support structure design accommodates multiple anchoring member thicknesses through the resilient elements. The same support body and spring combination can adapt to different thickness specifications, eliminating the need for multiple custom-designed support structures for different thickness variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is segmented into a rigid support body and separate resilient elements (springs). This segmentation allows the rigid portion to maintain precise geometric relationships for clamping while the resilient elements absorb the variability in anchoring member thickness, achieving precision without complex integrated designs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If resilient elements are added to accommodate thickness variations, then adaptability improves, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient elements are merged with the support structure in an integrated design where the springs are positioned within or attached to the support body. This combination achieves tolerance compensation without adding separate complex adjustment mechanisms, as the resilient elements become an inherent part of the support assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient support elements automatically adjust to accommodate anchoring member thickness variations without requiring external adjustment mechanisms or complex assembly procedures. The springs self-adjust their compression state based on the anchoring member thickness, providing automatic tolerance compensation during assembly.
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 allows for efficient mass production of fastening assemblies that can accommodate anchoring members of different thicknesses and tolerances, ensuring secure clamping and easy assembly, while maintaining flexibility and stability.
Implementation Method 1
spring members (55), which rest upon the bottom ends (35a) of the legs (35) and resiliently support the anchoring member (20) from underneath
Implementation Method 2
clamping spring member (37), which engages with the upper side of the washer element (10) and is fitted in order to provide a clamping effect between the assembly (1) and the profiled element (100)
Data Source
Figure 1~2d
Figure 3a~4d
Figure 5a~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a fastening assembly (1) for fixing an object to a profiled element (100) with flanges (103) which bound a longitudinal slot (104) between them. The fastening assembly comprises a metal washer element (10), which has a bearing face that is arranged for resting against the outside of the profiled element, and also an elongated metal anchoring member (20), which is situated on the underside of the bearing face of the washer element and has axial end parts (20a,20b). The assembly furthermore comprises a support (30) for the anchoring member, which support is connected to the washer element, possibly detachably, and which support bears the anchoring member. The fastening assembly (1) with its anchoring member (20) can be aligned with the longitudinal slot (104), and the anchoring member can be inserted through the longitudinal slot (104) into the profiled element. After turning of the fastening assembly, the anchoring member extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal slot, so that the anchoring member grips behind the flanges of the profiled element. The anchoring member (20) and the washer element (10) can subsequently be tensioned towards each other in order to fix the fastening assembly to the profiled element. The support comprises a head with one or more connecting members (31), which connecting members engage, possibly detachably, with the washer element (10), and also legs (35), each extending from the head in a direction away from the washer element (10) to a bottom end of the corresponding leg situated below the anchoring member. The support (30) below the anchoring member comprises one or more spring members (55), which are supported upon the bottom ends of the legs and engage with the anchoring member (20) from underneath and resiliently support the anchoring member from underneath.