Spacer-Integrated Grid Clip for Precise Reinforcement Positioning

Solution Overview

Problem

Current grid reinforcement materials face challenges in precise construction and maintaining their position during construction, as they lack a dedicated fixing apparatus, leading to potential detachment and deformation under construction pressures, which affects the quality and stability of the reinforcement.

Innovation Solution

A grid fixing apparatus with a spacer-integrated retaining clip and anchor pin system that securely attaches the grid reinforcement material to a surface or object, ensuring precise positioning and stability in both vertical and horizontal directions, applicable to various lattice-shaped materials like metallic meshes and textile grids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If grid reinforcement material is laid without a dedicated fixing apparatus, then construction process is simple, but grid position cannot be maintained precisely and grid may detach or deform under construction pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrid position stabilityVSAvoidfixing apparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer and retaining clip are merged into a single integrated component. The spacer body includes both the spacing function (protruding from the surface) and the retaining function (with the clip portion that engages the grid reinforcement material), eliminating the need for separate fixing apparatus and reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated spacer-retaining clip performs multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains the predetermined distance from the surface, secures the grid reinforcement material in position, and provides anchorage points for fasteners. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable grid positioning without requiring multiple separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If anchor pins are used to fix grid reinforcement material, then grid attachment to surface is secure, but construction speed decreases due to time-consuming anchor installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrid attachment strengthVSAvoidconstruction speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining clips are pre-formed as integral parts of the spacers during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for on-site assembly of separate components, allowing workers to simply lay the spacers and secure grids with fasteners, thereby maintaining secure attachment while improving construction speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If grid reinforcement material is placed directly on surface, then construction process is simple, but grid cannot maintain predetermined distance from surface leading to poor concrete construction quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrid positioning accuracyVSAvoidspacer-integrated clip structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer and retaining clip are merged into a single integrated component. The spacer body includes both the spacing function (protruding from the surface) and the retaining function (with the clip portion that engages the grid reinforcement material), eliminating the need for separate fixing apparatus and reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated spacer-retaining clip performs multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains the predetermined distance from the surface, secures the grid reinforcement material in position, and provides anchorage points for fasteners. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable grid positioning without requiring multiple separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11680408B2Grid fixing apparatus having spacer-integrated retaining clip for grid reinforcement and grid fixing method using the same

Publication Date: 2023.06.20 KOREA INST OF CIVIL ENG & BUILDING TECH

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a grid fixing apparatus including a spacer-integrated retaining clip and a grid fixing method using the same capable of integrally forming a retaining clip and a spacer, forming a grid fixing apparatus to be tacked into an object through an anchor pin to firmly fix a grid reinforcement material to a surface or an outer side of the object, and fixing the grid reinforcement material in vertical and horizontal directions to precisely construct the grid reinforcement material and capable of being applied to all grid reinforcement materials manufactured in a lattice shape, such as a metallic mesh, a geogrid, and a textile grid made of a high-strength fiber, and being utilized in construction of a grid reinforcement material to which various binders such as concrete, mortar, a pavement material, and a finishing material are applied.