Fiberboard Screw Support Structure to Prevent Panel Bulging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Screwing components to thin fiberboard panels is challenging due to difficulty in determining the end position of screws, leading to reduced attachment strength and material bulging, which results in permanent defects.

Innovation Solution

A fiberboard attachment kit featuring a disc-like member with a through-hole and a supporting member that aligns with the disc-like member, preventing material bulging by compacting fibers and improving fastening, with specific diameter configurations to ensure secure attachment without excessive force or deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If screws are used to attach components to thin fiberboard panels, then attachment strength is improved, but material bulging occurs and attachment strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidmaterial bulging
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A supporting member is introduced as an intermediary element between the screw and the fiberboard panel. This supporting member has a through-hole with a diameter smaller than the major diameter of the screw threads, which prevents fiberboard material from being drawn into the thread space and causing bulging, while still allowing the screw to attach the component to the panel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The diameter of the through-hole in the supporting member is specifically controlled to be smaller than the major diameter of the screw threads. This parameter change creates a tight fit that prevents material bulging while maintaining adequate fastening strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If screws are driven into thin fiberboard panels, then components are attached, but it is difficult to know when the screw has reached its end position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew installationVSAvoidend position detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting member is pre-installed on the fiberboard panel before the screw is driven in. This preliminary action provides a physical stop that prevents the screw from being over-driven, making it easy to know when the screw has reached its end position without requiring precise measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the through-hole diameter of the supporting member is smaller than the major diameter of the threads, then material bulging is prevented, but the screw must be longer to attach through both members

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial bulgingVSAvoidscrew length
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is segmented into multiple components: the disc-like member, the supporting member, and the screw. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the supporting member prevents bulging with its smaller through-hole, while the screw length is optimized to attach through both members without requiring excessive length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 kit enhances screw attachment strength by preventing material bulging and ensuring a rigid connection, maintaining the planarity of the fiberboard surface while allowing easy assembly and high-density material compaction.

Implementation Method 1

a supporting member arranged on a fiberboard panel side of the disc-like member to ensure rigid attachment to the disc-like member to the fiberboard panel thereby preventing material bulging

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical support and constraint: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

Furthermore, fiber material is compacted, by the thread, against the supporting member. This forms a zone of compacted fiber material, which improves the fastening of the screw to the fiberboard panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThread compaction: Compression

Implementation Method 3

the threads of the screw will draw fiberboard material towards the surface of the fiberboard panel. This phenomenon is commonly known as material bulging

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThread engagement and material displacement: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3341616B1A fiberboard supporting device
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 IKEA SUPPLY AG
  • EP3341616B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP3341616B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3341616B1 patent drawingFigure 3c~4

AI summary

A fiberboard supporting device (40) adapted for connecting devices to fiberboard panels (20) is provided. The supporting device comprises a disc-like member (60) having a through-hole (62) for receiving an associated screw (30), said screw (30) having a shank (32) provided with threads (34), and a supporting member (50) arranged on a fiberboard panel side (61) of the disc-like member (60) and having a through-hole (52) being aligned with the through-hole (62) of the disc-like member (60). The diameter (DH1) of the through-hole (52) of the supporting member (50) is smaller than the major diameter (DT) of the threads (34) and is also smaller than the diameter (DH2) of the through-hole (62) of the disc-like member (60).