Graphic Holder Mount With Flexible Neck for Display Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for positioning graphic holders on display arms are either too flexible, leading to damage or obstruction, or too rigid, failing to prevent injury and ensure easy placement/removal of goods.

Innovation Solution

A device with a body portion made of resilient elastic silicone material and a neck portion featuring parallel side walls and a reinforcing end portion, allowing for secure attachment and easy rotation of graphic holders without obstructing the display arm's operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the neck portion is made completely flexible to allow easy placement and removal of goods, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as the graphic holder may become damaged or stuck

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of placement and removal of goodsVSAvoidrisk of damage or obstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The neck portion is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional area, being thickest at the base for maximum flexibility and progressively thinner towards the end where it attaches to the graphic holder. This gradient structure provides the needed flexibility at the base while maintaining sufficient strength at the attachment point to prevent damage and obstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The flexibility parameter of the neck portion is varied along its length through changing cross-sectional area. The base portion has larger dimensions for high flexibility to accommodate goods placement, while the attachment end has smaller dimensions for controlled flexibility that prevents damage and sticking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the neck portion is made rigid to prevent damage and obstruction, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as goods cannot be easily placed and removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of damage and obstructionVSAvoidease of placement and removal of goods
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the neck have different structural properties - the base is thick and highly flexible for ease of operation, while the attachment end is thinner and more rigid for reliability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between flexibility and rigidity requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If a hinged graphic holder is used to allow swinging away from vertical position, then the ease of operation is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen as it still impedes goods placement and may injure customers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to swing away from vertical positionVSAvoidimpediment to goods placement and injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The neck portion is made of elastomeric material that provides flexible, controlled movement without the hard edges and mechanical hinges that cause injury risks. The flexible material allows the graphic holder to move away from vertical position while preventing the harmful effects of rigid hinged structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 securely displays graphic holders without obstructing the display arm's operation, prevents damage, and ensures user safety by allowing easy placement and removal of goods while resisting excessive twisting or bending.

Implementation Method 1

a body portion substantially formed of a resilient elastic material and comprising a band for securing around a display arm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The first side wall and the second side wall have reinforcing portions substantially at each of their edges

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStructural reinforcement:

Data Source

PatentEP2364620B1A device for positioning a graphic holder
Publication Date: 2012.05.16 DISPLAYMODE
  • EP2364620B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP2364620B1 patent drawingFigure 7~12
  • EP2364620B1 patent drawingFigure 13~14

AI summary

The present invention provides a device (1;20) for positioning a graphic holder (30; 40) on a display arm (50). The device (1;20) has a body portion (2) that comprises a band (4) for securing around a display arm (50). The device (1;20) further comprises a neck portion (3) attached to the body portion (2) at a first end that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body portion and has attaching means (13;21) for holding the graphics holder (30;40) substantially at a second end. The neck portion (3) has a first side wall (8) attached to a first side of the body portion (2) at a first end, a parallel second side wall (9) attached to a second side of the body portion (2) at a first end and an end portion (10) attached to a second end of the first side wall (8) and a second end of the second side wall (9). An edge of the end portion (10) extending between the first side wall (8) and the second side wall (9) may be substantially adjacent to the band (4) of the body portion (2) and separated from the body portion (2) by a notch (16).