Fixing Bracket with Asymmetric Fingers for Façade Panel Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing brackets for building façades, particularly those using resilient parts, result in unstable and durable issues as they deteriorate over time, leading to misalignment and potential panel detachment.
Innovation Solution
A fixing bracket design where the lower front finger is longer than the upper front finger, allowing for easy release of flat elements by shifting them upwards, with a resilient tongue providing secure attachment without requiring flexible or resilient load-carrying parts, enabling secure and durable mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If resilient parts are used in the fixing bracket to allow flexible mounting and release of panels, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates as the resilient parts deteriorate over time causing instability and potential panel detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the resilient part (tongue) from the load-carrying function. The tongue is made resilient to provide release capability, but the load is carried by separate rigid fingers that engage with the panel profile. This separation allows the resilient tongue to enable easy release without compromising structural stability, as the rigid fingers maintain secure panel attachment even after prolonged use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If resilient parts are used in the fixing bracket to enable panel release, then adaptability is improved, but duration of action deteriorates as the resilient parts loose resilience and become loose over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the release function (performed by the resilient tongue) from the load-bearing function (performed by rigid fingers). The tongue provides adaptability for easy panel release, while the rigid fingers ensure long service life by maintaining secure engagement without losing resilience. This functional separation resolves the contradiction between releasability and service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing bracket is segmented into distinct functional components: resilient tongues for release operations and rigid fingers for load carrying. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the tongue for adaptability and the fingers for durability - thereby extending the overall service life of the fixing bracket system.
3Ease of operation
If flexible or resilient load-carrying parts are used to secure panels, then ease of operation is improved, but strength deteriorates as the flexible components may break or deform over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flexibility requirement from the load-carrying components. Rigid fingers provide structural integrity for load bearing, while separate resilient tongues provide the necessary flexibility for easy panel installation and release. This extraction ensures that strength is not compromised by the presence of flexible components.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the fixing bracket have different mechanical properties optimized for their specific functions. The fingers are made rigid with appropriate stiffness to carry loads securely, while the tongues are made resilient to allow flexible operation. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between flexibility and structural integrity.
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 design ensures stable and reliable attachment of flat elements, allowing for easy release and reattachment without tools, maintaining façade stability and durability by eliminating the need for flexible components.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient tongue (11) extending downwards and frontwards from the upper rear finger (10), adapted such that when the key (20) of the lower panel (17) is inserted between the lower front fingers (8, 9) and the building structure (18), the tongue (11) exerts a downwards directed force on the top portion (19) of the lower panel (17) securing the key (20) against the lower front fingers (8, 9)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A fixing bracket for mounting flat elements (16,17), more specifically profiled planks or long panels, in coplanarity in continuation of each other to form a building facade, comprises a central portion connecting a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion comprises an upper front finger (7) extending upwards such as to be adapted for insertion into a groove (24) of an upper of said flat elements (16) and a lower front finger extending downwards (9) such as to be adapted for supporting a front surface of a lower of said flat elements (17). The rear portion comprises a resilient tongue (11,12) extending downwards and being adapted to exert a frontwards directed force on a rear surface of said lower flat element. The lower front finger extends farther downwards than the upper front finger extends upwards from the central portion. Hereby, a flat element secured between two such brackets can be released by shifting the flat element upwards while optionally simultaneously pushing the flat element backwards.