Glass Fencing Spigots With Gaskets for Secure Panel Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glass fencing systems are prone to breakage, posing safety risks due to sharp shards and loss of barrier protection, and existing solutions like tempered or laminated glass do not adequately address installation ease.
Innovation Solution
A glass fencing system with glass panels supported by spigots and rails featuring gaskets and pads, along with connectors for secure attachment to structures, ensuring stability and ease of installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If glass panels are used for fencing to provide visibility, then transparency is improved, but safety deteriorates due to breakage risks and sharp shards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating protective elements (such as protective films or laminated structures) directly onto or within the glass panels during manufacturing. This pre-applied protection cushions against breakage and reduces shard formation when the glass does break, thereby maintaining visibility while improving safety before any failure occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of glass breakage into a beneficial outcome by using tempered or laminated glass that, when broken, transforms into small granular particles or remains held together by interlayers. This converts the original harm (sharp shards) into a safe state (granular particles or contained fragments), allowing the glass to maintain both transparency and improved safety.
2Reliability
If tempered or laminated glass is used to protect against breakage, then safety is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the fencing system into modular components (glass panels, separate protective elements, standardized fittings) that can be independently handled and assembled. This modular approach simplifies installation of tempered or laminated glass by allowing workers to install pre-prepared panels with integrated protective features rather than dealing with complex multi-step processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by designing glass panels with self-contained protective features (such as self-adhesive protective films or self-laminated structures) that require minimal additional processing during installation. The protective elements are already integrated into the panels, allowing installers to simply mount the complete units without needing to apply separate protective layers or perform complex lamination procedures on-site.
3Strength
If conventional fencing systems are used with rails and pickets, then structural strength is improved, but visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible shells and thin films by using thin glass panels that provide barrier functionality with minimal visual obstruction. The thin film nature of the glass panels allows light to pass through while maintaining structural integrity when properly supported, replacing traditional opaque pickets with transparent thin panels that preserve visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies composite materials by combining glass panels with supporting structures (such as aluminum rails or stainless steel fittings) to create a composite fencing system. The glass provides transparency while the metal components provide structural strength, achieving both visibility and structural integrity through material composition rather than relying on a single material type.
Data Source
AI summary
A glass fencing system includes glass panels, rails, gaskets, and spigots. The rails extend across the upper edges of the glass panels. The gaskets are fitted within the rails. The spigots support one of the glass panels and comprise a base, a first arm, a first pad, a second arm, and a second pad. The first pad has a first pad surface and a lower surface. The first pad surface is in contact with the first arm and the glass panel. The lower surface extends from the first pad surface and is in contact with the glass panels. The second arm has bores. The second pad has a second pad surface, a backing, a plate, and fasteners. The second pad surface is in contact with the glass panel. The backing is spaced apart from the second pad surface and has backing openings aligned with the bores. The plate is located between the second pad surface and the backing. The fasteners pass through the bores and the backing openings to contact the plate.