Flexible Arm Retainer for Secure Removable Surface Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting devices lack ease of installation and removal, and are not adaptable for various surface orientations and types, limiting their versatility in hanging and displaying objects.
Innovation Solution
Retainers with flexible, spring-like arms that can be resiliently bent to engage with surfaces, providing a spring force for secure mounting and easy removal, allowing for use on multiple surface types and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing mounting devices are used, then objects can be mounted to surfaces, but the devices lack ease of installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device uses flexible arms that can dynamically change their state between bent (during installation) and returned (during secure mounting). This dynamic flexibility allows the arms to be easily bent for installation while automatically providing secure mounting when in the returned state, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and mounting reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the physical state of the flexible arms from a bent configuration (easy to apply) to a returned configuration (provides secure mounting). By utilizing the elastic properties of the material, the arms naturally transition between these states, enabling both easy installation and reliable mounting without compromising either aspect.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing mounting devices are used, then objects can be mounted to surfaces, but they are not adaptable for various surface orientations and types
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device is designed with multiple flexible arms that can engage with surfaces in various orientations. The arms can be bent at different angles and directions, allowing the same device structure to adapt to walls, ceilings, floors, and uneven surfaces without requiring different device variants, thus achieving versatility without increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device divides the mounting function into multiple independent flexible arms, each capable of independently engaging with the surface. This segmentation allows each arm to adapt to different surface orientations and types while maintaining a simple overall device structure, as each arm operates independently to handle specific mounting requirements.
3Ease of operation
If flexible arms are used for mounting, then ease of installation is improved, but mounting stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible arms transition from a dynamic bent state (during easy installation) to a stable returned state (during secure mounting). The elastic properties ensure that once bent and engaged, the arms naturally return to their original shape, providing stable mounting while maintaining ease of installation through their flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible arms utilize curved elastic deformation during installation, bending along their length to engage with the surface. This curvature-based flexibility allows easy bending for installation while the elastic recovery provides stable, consistent mounting force, resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and mounting stability.
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
Enables secure, removable, and stable mounting of objects on diverse surfaces, simplifying installation and removal processes while accommodating different surface orientations and types.
Implementation Method 1
The retainers have flexible, spring-like arms which can be resiliently bent. Grip members on the flexible arms engage the surface and spring force of the resiliently bent arms retains or mounts the retainer on the surface.
Implementation Method 2
spring force of the resiliently bent arms retains or mounts the retainer on the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer has an arm support portion and at least three arms extending from the arm support portion. The at least three arms are resiliently flexible. A grip member is provided on each one of the at least three arms. Each grip member is capable of engagement with a surface. During use of the retainer, the at least three arms are in a flexed or loaded position and each grip member is in engagement with the surface. The at least three arms provide a spring force to the surface through the grip members to securely mount the retainer on the surface. An object can be supported by the retainer.