Offset Hygienic Anchor Bracket for Clean Room Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In clean, sanitary, or sterile environments, existing pipe and tube supports face challenges in securing anchor brackets to panels without access to the reverse side, while protecting the fasteners from caustic cleaning solutions and preventing dirt and bacteria buildup, especially when using toggle bolt-like fasteners that present uneven surfaces and can deteriorate.

Innovation Solution

An offset anchor bracket with bored pedestals and a sealing mechanism, such as an O-ring or silicone caulk, encapsulates toggle bolt-like fasteners, allowing secure attachment to panels without reverse access, while maintaining a smooth surface and protecting against caustic solutions, and featuring receivers for block style tube and pipe hangers to ensure correct slope and centerline alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If toggle bolt-like fasteners are used to secure anchor bracket to panel, then installation is simplified and anchor bracket can be secured without reverse access, but the fasteners present uneven surfaces that can collect dirt and bacteria and deteriorate in caustic conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoiddirt and bacteria buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A smooth, curved cap structure is introduced as an intermediary component that covers the toggle bolt-like fastener. The cap has a curved outer surface that is flush with the panel, preventing dirt and bacteria accumulation, while internally securing the fastener through a bore that receives the fastener shaft. This mediator protects the environment from the harmful irregular surface of the fastener.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cap structure acts as a protective shell that encapsulates the fastener. The shell has a smooth, continuous surface without crevices where contaminants could accumulate, effectively isolating the irregular fastener surface from the clean room environment while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of operation

If toggle bolt-like fasteners are used to secure anchor bracket, then anchor bracket can be installed without reverse access, but the fasteners can deteriorate when exposed to caustic cleaning solutions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation accessibilityVSAvoidfastener durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cap structure serves as a protective intermediary that shields the fastener from direct contact with caustic cleaning solutions. The bore of the cap receives the fastener shaft, and the smooth curved surface extends to flush with the panel, creating a barrier that prevents chemical exposure while allowing the fastener to perform its securing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of exposed fasteners to cleaning solutions into a benefit by using the cap structure to redirect cleaning solutions away from the fastener. The smooth curved surface guides fluids away from the fastener interface, transforming the cleaning process from a harmful exposure into a beneficial protective measure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Strength

If fasteners are exposed to secure anchor bracket, then secure attachment is achieved, but irregular surfaces are exposed that prevent smooth contact surface requirement in clean environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidsurface smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The cap structure is positioned as an intermediary between the irregular fastener and the clean room environment. It features a smooth curved outer surface that is flush with the panel, eliminating irregular surfaces from exposure. The cap internally secures the fastener through a bore, maintaining attachment strength while presenting a smooth external surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cap forms a protective shell that encloses the irregular fastener components. This shell provides a smooth, continuous surface without crevices or irregularities, meeting the clean room requirement for smooth contact surfaces while the internal structure maintains secure attachment to the panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS9822907B1Anchor sealing hygienic bracket

Publication Date: 2017.11.21 SYNTIRO DYNAMICS LLC

AI summary

An offset hygienic anchor sealing bracket for installation of block style tube and pipe hangers to a paneled strata in which there is no access to the reverse side, there being a need to secure the anchor bracket to an anchor bolt or toggle bolt and simultaneously shield the exposed toggle bolt structure from the environment of the clean room, sterile room, or sanitary room in order to protect the irregular surface of the toggle bolt from caustic cleaning solutions and to prevent the build up of dirt and bacteria, the anchor bracket having bored pedestals in communication with the cavity which encapsulates the exposed portion of the toggle bolt and secures the anchor bracket thereto, the anchor bracket having a plurality of female threaded receptacles for receipt of fasteners utilized in assembling block style tube and pipe hangers, thus securing the block style tube and pipe hanger to the panel at a desired slope and center line.