Floor-wall element with bending areas for glass pane handrail

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing glass pane railing systems require additional production steps and material waste due to the need for intermediate webs in U-shaped profile bodies to prevent twisting and collapsing, leading to increased production costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A floor-wall element with predetermined bending areas that can be bent into a U-shaped installation position without intermediate webs, allowing for a one-piece design that simplifies assembly and eliminates material waste, while also enabling secure clamping of glass panes in both the foot and mouth areas of the U-profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If intermediate webs are added to the U-shaped profile body to prevent twisting and collapsing, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidprofile body complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floor-wall element is pre-formed with a U-shaped cross-section in a flat initial state, allowing it to be produced without intermediate webs. The element is then inserted into the dimensionally stable U-profile where it automatically assumes its final three-dimensional configuration, achieving structural stability without requiring preliminary complex shaping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The dimensionally stable U-profile acts as an intermediary structure that provides the necessary structural support and stability. The floor-wall element utilizes this external framework to maintain its shape and prevent collapsing, eliminating the need for internal intermediate webs within the floor-wall element itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If intermediate webs are included in the U-shaped profile body, then structural integrity is improved, but material consumption and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmaterial waste
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate webs are extracted from the floor-wall element design entirely. Instead of incorporating them into the profile body, the structural support function is transferred to the dimensionally stable U-profile, allowing production without additional material consumption for webs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The dimensionally stable U-profile serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, prevents collapsing, maintains dimensional stability, and accommodates the floor-wall element. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate intermediate webs within the floor-wall element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If the floor-wall element is produced in U-shape with intermediate webs, then dimensional stability is improved, but assembly complexity increases due to web removal requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimensional stabilityVSAvoidassembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The floor-wall element is pre-formed in a flat initial state without intermediate webs, allowing for simpler production. The element is then inserted into the dimensionally stable U-profile where it automatically assumes its final three-dimensional configuration, achieving both dimensional stability and assembly simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If the floor-wall element is designed as a single wall part, then production is simplified, but assembly difficulty increases due to positioning requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The floor-wall element is segmented into two wall parts that can be independently positioned and fixed. This segmentation allows each wall part to be separately aligned with the U-profile legs, simplifying the assembly process and ensuring proper positioning without requiring complex pre-positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces production costs, simplifies assembly, and ensures stable and permanent clamping of glass panes, while allowing for more flexible manufacturing tolerances and easier storage and transportation of the floor-wall elements.

Implementation Method 1

there is at least one predetermined bending area in the floor-wall element. The floor-wall element can be bent around this predetermined bending range from an initial position, in which the production of the floor-wall element takes place, into its approximately U-shaped installation position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2809854B1Floor/wall element for securing the position of a glass pane of a handrail structure
Publication Date: 2018.03.21 BANGRATZ RENE
  • EP2809854B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2809854B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a floor/wall element (40) for securing the position of a panel, in particular a glass pane (18) of a handrail structure (10), said floor/wall element being insertable into a dimensionally stable U-shaped profiled element (22). The floor/wall element has a right wall part (44) and/or a left wall part (46) as well as a floor part (42). The floor part (42) adjoins the at least one wall part (44, 46). According to the invention, at least one target bending region (50) is provided about which the base/wall element (40) can be bent from a starting position into an approximately U-shaped installation position.