Glass Railing Clamp Inserts for Variable Panel Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping devices for glass panels in railings are inefficient as they require multiple components and are not easily adjustable for different glass thicknesses, leading to complications in assembly and stability.
Innovation Solution
A clamping device with two insert elements that can be adjusted along a longitudinal axis to accommodate different glass thicknesses by changing their positions, allowing for three distinct clamping distances, thereby securely holding glass panels of varying thicknesses with a minimal number of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic seals with nubs are inserted into bores in the clamping jaws to hold the glass panel, then the glass panel can be securely held without scratching or breaking it, but ambient air becomes trapped between the glass panel and the seals, requiring a honeycomb structure to maintain surface contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air pocket problem from the clamping mechanism by introducing a channel that actively removes trapped air between the glass panel and the elastic seal. The channel provides a pathway for air to escape during the clamping process, eliminating the need for complex honeycomb structures to manage air pockets while maintaining reliable glass holding.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different thicknesses of rubber buffers are used depending on the thickness of the glass plate, then glass panels of different thicknesses can be accommodated, but the device requires multiple components and is difficult to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the elastic seal can be positioned at different locations along the clamping jaw using an adjustment element. This allows the effective clamping distance to be varied dynamically to accommodate different glass panel thicknesses, replacing the need for multiple fixed-thickness rubber buffers with a single adjustable seal system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the elastic seal along the clamping jaw to adapt to different glass thicknesses. By allowing the seal to be repositioned at different locations, the system can accommodate various glass panel thicknesses without requiring multiple different buffer components, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining versatility.
3Reliability
If the inner surfaces of the clamping jaws are designed with a honeycomb structure to improve friction, then trapped air pockets can press the elastic seals into the recesses to maintain surface contact, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the air pocket issue by providing a channel that allows trapped air to escape during clamping. This eliminates the need for the honeycomb structure to manage air pockets, as the air can be actively removed through the channel, thereby maintaining surface contact between the seal and glass panel without the complexity of recesses.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable glass clamp with two adjustment rings is used to change the distance between elastic seals, then glass plates of varying thicknesses can be held, but the large number of individual components makes assembly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the adjustment functionality into a single integrated mechanism where the elastic seal and adjustment element work together as one unit. Instead of requiring separate adjustment rings for each clamping jaw, the invention uses a single adjustment element that controls the position of the elastic seal, thereby reducing the number of components while maintaining the ability to adjust for varying glass thicknesses.
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 device ensures secure clamping of glass panels with different material thicknesses using a few components, simplifying assembly and maintaining stability without scratching the glass, while allowing for easy adjustment to accommodate various glass thicknesses.
Implementation Method 1
elastic seals can be inserted between the glass panel and the respective clamping jaw
Implementation Method 2
the inner surfaces of the clamping jaws are designed with a honeycomb structure to improve the friction between the seals and the glass plate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a clamping device (1; 100; 200) for a surface element (2), comprising a connecting section (5) and a clamping section (20) arranged along a longitudinal axis (L) of the clamping device (1; 100; 200) adjacent to the connecting section (5), wherein the clamping device (1; 100; 200) further comprises two clamping jaws (3, 4) which are movably connected to one another in the connecting section (5) along a clamping axis (S) and which define a receiving space (18) for the surface element (2) between them in the clamping section (20), and two insert elements (21, 22; 121, 122; 221, 222) arranged in the clamping section (20) between the two clamping jaws (3, 4). The invention further relates to a railing arrangement with such a clamping device.