Elastic Fence Panel Clip with Plastic Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of traditional fence panels is time-consuming and requires skill due to the need for multiple flanges and bolts, and existing solutions like elastic clips can cause noise and wear when subjected to shocks.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a metal blade with elastic wings embedded in a plastic body, which engages behind the stops of a rabbet to securely hold the vertical wire of a lattice panel, allowing for quicker installation and reduced noise and wear through its elastic fixing mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional flanges and bolts are used to fix the panel, then the fixing strength is improved, but the installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fixing functions into a single integrated device: the plastic body with embedded metal blade serves both as structural support and fastening element, eliminating the need for separate flanges and bolts. This merging reduces the number of components and simplifies installation while maintaining fixing strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal blade is pre-embedded in the plastic body during manufacturing, creating a ready-to-install fixing device. The installer only needs to insert the complete assembly, without assembling multiple parts on-site. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces installation time and skill requirements.
2Loss of time
If elastic clips are used to replace flanges, then the installation time is reduced, but noise and wear increase due to vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining plastic material with embedded metal blade. The plastic body acts as a vibration-damping material that reduces noise and wear from panel vibrations, while the metal blade provides the necessary elastic fixing capability. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between installation speed and vibration control.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic body serves as an intermediary between the metal blade and the panel/post, absorbing and dampening vibrations. This intermediate layer prevents direct metal-to-metal contact that causes noise and wear, while still allowing the elastic clip mechanism to function effectively for quick installation.
3Reliability
If multiple flanges are installed for each panel, then the fixing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple flanges into a single integrated plastic body with embedded metal blade. This single device provides the same cumulative fixing reliability as multiple separate flanges while dramatically reducing component count and simplifying the overall assembly process.
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
Facilitates faster and more secure fence panel installation with reduced noise and wear, as the device uses elastic wings to securely attach the panel without the need for multiple flanges and bolts, and the plastic body helps in damping vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
a metal blade part of which is external to said body to form two elastic fixing wings intended to engage behind abutments presented by the aforementioned rabbet
Implementation Method 2
the plastic body helps in damping vibrations
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The clip (3) has a support face (4) that is supported on a bottom (20) of a U shaped groove of a post. A passage (5) receives a unit that traverses the clip and the bottom of the groove. Slots permit the clip to enclose a vertical end wire and place the face in contact with the bottom. Metallic fins are spaced progressively from the support face towards an opposite face, and define a V shape whose opening is elastically deformable such that free ends of the fins cooperate with stops (10) of lateral fins (11) of grooves (1A, 1B) for temporarily anchoring the clip in the stops. An independent claim is also included for a fence constituted of panels whose ends are engaged in a groove of a post and comprising a fence panel`s vertical end wire maintenance clip.