Floor Plate Lock-In Bracket for Ground-Level Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for constructing multi-story buildings are inefficient in terms of material handling and placement, requiring specialized equipment and labor-intensive operations, especially when assembling and lifting structural elements and pouring concrete to each floor level.

Innovation Solution

A system and device for securing floor plates to a vertical support core using a vertically-oriented lock-in bracket, allowing floor plates to be assembled at ground level and lifted to a design level, with a slip-critical interface and bolted connections for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional bottom-up construction methods are used to assemble structural elements above ground level, then structural integrity can be achieved, but construction efficiency deteriorates due to thousands of individual lifts required by tower cranes and labor-intensive operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction efficiencyVSAvoidspecialized equipment requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling complete floor plates at ground level before lifting them to their final positions. The floor plates are prepared with all structural elements, concrete floors, and connections ready in advance, eliminating the need for thousands of individual lifts during construction. This pre-assembly approach significantly improves construction efficiency while reducing the complexity of equipment requirements during the building process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If floor plates are assembled at ground level and lifted to design level, then construction time is reduced, but the complexity of securing mechanisms increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction timeVSAvoidsecuring mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the floor plate into modular components that can be assembled at ground level and then lifted as a complete unit. The floor plate is segmented into structural elements, concrete floors, and connection points, allowing for efficient pre-assembly and reduced construction time. The securing mechanism uses standardized connection points that simplify the lifting and attachment process despite the complexity of the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If traditional concrete pumping methods are used to reach final elevation, then material placement is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial placement efficiencyVSAvoidconcrete pouring time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating concrete floors as integral parts of the pre-assembled floor plates at ground level. The concrete is poured and cured before the floor plates are lifted to their final positions, eliminating the need for time-consuming concrete pumping operations at height. This approach significantly reduces both the time and labor required for material placement while improving overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4074907B1System and apparatus for securing a floorplate to a structure
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BIG TIME INVESTMENT LLC
  • EP4074907B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4074907B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4074907B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A multi-story building that includes a vertical support core and a plurality of floor plates is described, wherein fabrication of the building includes, in one embodiment, assembling each of the floor plates at or near ground level, and lifting each of the floor plates to a design level on the vertical support core. A system and device for securing one of the floor plates to the building includes employing a vertically-oriented lock-in bracket.