Adjustable Hanger Bars with Detachment Stop Tabs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Adjustable hanger bars used for mounting luminaires on support structures often experience unintended detachment, complicating installation and increasing costs due to the need for frequent adjustments.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating stoppage tabs on hanger bar members that interlock to prevent unintended disengagement, allowing for adjustable length and secure attachment to support structures while enabling easy detachment when needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hanger bars are made adjustable to accommodate varying support structure spacing, then ease of installation and compatibility are improved, but the risk of unintended detachment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoiddetachment prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hanger bar system uses nested channel and rail segments where inner segments slide within outer segments. The stoppage tabs are positioned within the channel-rail interface to prevent unintended detachment while allowing controlled adjustment, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and detachment prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Stoppage tabs are pre-positioned on the hanger bar members to provide preliminary anti-action against unintended detachment. These tabs engage with the channel and rail structures before detachment can occur, counteracting the potential harmful effect while preserving adjustability through controlled movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If stoppage tabs are added to prevent unintended detachment, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetachment preventionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stoppage tabs are merged with the existing channel and rail segment structures rather than being separate components. The tabs are integrated into the hanger bar members and work in conjunction with the channel-rail interface, providing detachment prevention without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than making the entire hanger bar system more complex, stoppage tabs are added only at specific critical locations where detachment prevention is needed. This localized approach provides reliable detachment prevention while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9447917B1Adjustable hanger bars with detachment stop

Publication Date: 2016.09.20 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

AI summary

A hanger bar assembly includes a first hanger bar member and a second hanger bar member. The first hanger bar member includes a first rail segment, a first channel segment including a first channel, and a first stoppage tab extending up above an edge of the first channel segment. The second hanger bar member includes a second rail segment positioned in the first channel of the first channel segment and a second channel segment that includes a second channel. The first rail segment is positioned in the second channel. The second hanger bar member further includes a second stoppage tab extending out in a horizontal direction. The first stoppage tab and the second stoppage tab are designed to abut against each other to prevent unintended disengagement of the first hanger bar member from the second hanger bar member.