Flexible Clamping Ribs for Uneven Wall Baseboard Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices for end strips face challenges in securely attaching to mounting profiles on uneven walls, particularly with longer sections, due to insufficient play in the receiving web and clamping connection, which is compromised by the need for resilient contact and tolerance compensation.

Innovation Solution

The clamping ribs are made of flexible plastic and coextruded with the mounting profile, allowing them to pivot and create necessary space for attachment on uneven walls, providing a secure hold through frictional engagement and increased deformation resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the receiving web is made rigid to ensure structural stability, then the mounting profile maintains its shape, but the clamping connection cannot accommodate uneven wall profiles or tolerance variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stability of mounting profileVSAvoidadaptability to uneven wall profiles
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting profile combines rigid and flexible materials in specific locations: the main body (receiving web and wall leg) is made of rigid plastic for structural stability, while the clamping ribs are made of flexible plastic to accommodate tolerance variations and uneven wall profiles. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between structural stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting profile uses a composite structure with two different plastic materials: a rigid plastic for the mounting profile body and a flexible plastic for the clamping ribs. This composite material approach allows the single component to simultaneously provide structural stability and adaptability to varying installation conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the clamping ribs are made of flexible plastic to allow pivoting and create space for uneven walls, then adaptability improves, but the secure hold and deformation resistance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to uneven wall profilesVSAvoiddeformation resistance and secure hold
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible plastic material of the clamping ribs is selected with specific elastic properties that allow controlled deformation during installation (pivoting to accommodate uneven walls) while maintaining sufficient deformation resistance to provide a secure hold. The material parameters are optimized to balance flexibility and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The clamping ribs are designed with a curved, arc-shaped cross-section that allows them to pivot and deform elastically when subjected to lateral forces from uneven wall profiles. This curved geometry enables the ribs to flex during installation while maintaining their clamping function and providing adequate deformation resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If coextrusion is used to produce flexible clamping ribs with the rigid mounting profile, then manufacturing simplicity improves, but the differentiation of material properties becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcomplexity of coextrusion process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible clamping ribs and rigid mounting profile are combined into a single integrated component produced by coextrusion. This merging of multiple components into one manufactured part simplifies the overall manufacturing process, assembly, and inventory management, despite the complexity of the coextrusion process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This solution ensures a secure and flexible clamping connection for end strips of varying lengths, allowing easy attachment and increased pull-off resistance, even on uneven walls, by utilizing the inherent elasticity of the flexible clamping ribs.

Implementation Method 1

the clamping ribs are made of a flexible plastic, namely by coextrusion with the essentially rigid mounting profile, so that the clamping ribs formed from a sufficiently flexible plastic can be pivoted relative to the receiving web

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

Due to the inherent elasticity of the clamping ribs, a compressive force is exerted on the walls of the receiving groove of the end strip via the clamping ribs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

rest under frictional engagement on the walls of the mounting groove of the end strip with a pretension due to their inherent elasticity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3169856B1Device for fastening a baseboard to a wall
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 NEUHOFER FRANZ JUN
  • EP3169856B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for fastening a baseboard (8) to a wall (2), comprising a retaining profile (1) made of plastic which forms a wall piece (3) and a receiving piece (7) for the baseboard (8), said receiving piece being arranged offset transversely to the wall piece (3) and having clamping ribs (10) that extend in the longitudinal direction of the receiving piece. In order to create advantageous construction conditions, the clamping ribs (10) are coextruded with the retaining profile (1) from a flexurally elastic plastic.