Adjustable Floor Support System with Integrated Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable floor systems for wooden joists are complex and costly, lacking a simple and cost-efficient solution with fewer components for effective sound and vibration damping.
Innovation Solution
A single-part screw mount with arms and indentations on wooden joists allows for adjustable and secure attachment, incorporating a damping element between the joist and supporting surface for axial play and snap-fit engagement, facilitating easy assembly and reliable support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a multi-part screw mount system is used (as in WO 2021/083520), then effective sound and vibration damping is achieved, but the system becomes complex and costly with more components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (screw mount body, damping element, and engagement features) into a single integrated screw mount component. The damping element is incorporated directly into the screw mount structure, eliminating the need for separate damping components while maintaining effective sound and vibration damping. This integration reduces assembly steps and component count while preserving the damping functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw mount is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, enables height adjustment through the threaded screw, and delivers sound and vibration damping through the integrated damping element. The arms with fingers provide both structural support and alignment functionality through snap-fit engagement with indentations on the joist. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized components.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single-part screw mount is used, then assembly is simplified and cost is reduced, but effective damping and secure attachment may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single-part screw mount integrates the damping element directly into the mount structure, ensuring that damping functionality is not lost despite the reduction in component count. The arms extend from the main body and include fingers that engage with indentations on the joist, providing secure attachment while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw mount incorporates controlled movement capability through the interaction between the fingers on the arms and the indentations on the joist. The fingers can slide within the indentations, allowing for limited movement and adjustment while maintaining secure engagement. This dynamic feature ensures reliable attachment while enabling the dampening function to operate effectively through controlled movement.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, simple, and reliable adjustable floor support system that effectively dampens sound and vibration while allowing for easy adjustment and alignment, enhancing the stability and evenness of wooden floors.
Implementation Method 1
A damping element is sandwiched between the joist and the supporting surface, to allow a dampened compression of the screw mount corresponding to the axial play.
Implementation Method 2
A damping element is sandwiched between the joist and the supporting surface, to allow a dampened compression of the screw mount corresponding to the axial play.
Implementation Method 3
each arm in its distal end provided with a finger in snap-fit engagement with one of the indentations, so as to secure the screw mount with respect to the joist in the axial direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
An adjustable floor support system having a set of wooden joists (3) provided with a plurality of through holes (8) and a set of adjustable floor supports including a threaded screw (4) and a screw mount (2) configured to engage the threaded screw, Each joist has indentations aligned with each through hole, and each screw mount has at least one pair of arms extending on either side of the joist, each arm in its distal end provided with a finger in snap-fit engagement with one of the indentations, so as to secure the screw mount with respect to the joist in the axial direction while allowing a limited axial play. A damping element is sandwiched between the joist and the supporting surface, to allow a dampened compression of the screw mount corresponding to the axial play.