Flatware Display Clip With Locking Wings for Secure Board Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display methods for flatware and similar items on backing boards are cumbersome, insecure, and expensive, failing to securely hold items due to the use of wires or expensive resilient U-shaped clips that do not accommodate various cross-sectional shapes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece clip made of resilient material with a central shank, support arms, and flexible locking wings that securely engage and retain items by inserting through a mounting hole and locking into place, allowing for easy positioning and secure mounting on various display boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wire fastening is used to attach flatware to the display board, then the flatware can be secured, but the installation becomes cumbersome and the security is insufficient due to curved handles
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is divided into functional segments: a mounting shank that passes through the board, support arms that cradle the flatware, and locking wings that secure the assembly. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and easy installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking wings are designed to be flexible and movable, transitioning from a collapsed state during insertion to an extended locked state after mounting. This dynamic behavior enables easy installation followed by secure retention, directly addressing the contradiction between installation ease and attachment reliability.
2Reliability
If resilient U-shaped clips are used to hold flatware, then the flatware can be retained, but the clips are expensive and do not prevent removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated clip structure: mounting, support, and locking functions are merged into one piece. This eliminates the need for separate expensive resilient clips while maintaining retention capability through the integrated locking wings that engage with the board.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking wings provide controlled retention - they hold the flatware securely during normal use but can be deliberately released when needed. This dynamic retention mechanism replaces expensive permanent clips while preventing unintended removal, addressing both reliability and manufacturing cost concerns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard clips are used for display, then mounting is possible, but they must be chosen based on cross-sectional size and shape, reducing versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The clip design achieves universality through its geometric locking mechanism - the locking wings engage with the board geometry rather than requiring specific flatware dimensions. The support arms are sized to accommodate various cross-sections, making the same clip design suitable for different flatware types without increasing design complexity.
4Reliability
If wire fastening is used, then multiple pieces can be displayed, but the fastening fails to fully secure pieces with curved handles
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms are designed with specific local geometry - curved surfaces that conform to and cradle curved flatware handles. This localized adaptation at the contact points ensures secure engagement with curved handles while maintaining the overall simplicity and versatility of the clip design.
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 clip provides a secure, economical, and efficient means to display and mount flatware items of different shapes, preventing unintended removal and allowing for easy installation and reuse, while being adaptable to various display board configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The clip may be formed as a one-piece construction of an appropriate resilient material such as nylon or plastic
Implementation Method 2
The lower end of the shank supports first ends of a pair of flexible locking wings that have first and second orientations
Data Source
AI summary
A display and mounting clip, particularly adapted to mount flatware to a display board, has a shank supporting a closed loop through which the displayed item is inserted. Opposed support arms, coupled to the shank, support the item within the loop. The shank is adapted to extend through the mounting board. Flexible locking means extend from the shank and can be placed into a splayed orientation below the mounting board to retain the clip in position.