Identification Strip With Soft Grip Zones for Groove Slip Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing identification strips for electrical installations tend to slip within mounting grooves due to environmental influences and vibrations, leading to potential dislodgment or complete removal.

Innovation Solution

The identification strip features a marking area and clamping area made of different plastics, where the softer second plastic forms adhesive areas to increase static friction, ensuring reliable attachment by engaging in a mounting groove.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a marking strip is clamped into a mounting groove for attachment, then the marking strip can be fixed to the electrical installation, but the marking strip tends to slip within the groove due to environmental influences and vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The marking strip incorporates adhesive areas with a different material property (softer second plastic) at specific locations where contact with the mounting groove occurs, while the marking area maintains its original harder first plastic material. This local differentiation of material properties increases static friction at the contact points without affecting the marking functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter (hardness/Shore value) of specific areas of the marking strip. The adhesive areas are made softer (lower Shore hardness) than the main body, which increases the coefficient of static friction and thereby improves grip within the mounting groove, preventing slippage under vibration and environmental influences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the marking strip is made of a single hard plastic material, then the marking area remains durable and printable, but the strip lacks sufficient friction to prevent slipping in the mounting groove

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial durabilityVSAvoidslip resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The marking strip is constructed as a composite object with at least two different plastic materials: a harder first plastic for the marking area that provides durability and printability, and a softer second plastic for the adhesive areas that provides increased static friction and slip resistance. This composite structure allows each area to optimize its function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different material properties are assigned to different locations of the marking strip. The adhesive areas use softer material to maximize friction with the mounting groove surfaces, while the marking area uses harder material to maintain structural integrity and resistance to environmental influences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution provides a slip-resistant marking strip that remains securely attached to the groove, preventing displacement under various conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the second plastic is softer than the first plastic to increase static friction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStatic friction: Static Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3935619B1Identification strip, marking system and method
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3935619B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3935619B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3935619B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Identification strip for an electrical installation, - having a marking area (4) that is designed to be printed by way of a printing device, - having a clamping area (6) that is designed to engage in a fastening groove, wherein the marking area (4) and the clamping area (6) comprise a first plastic (8), characterized in that - the marking area (4) and/or the clamping area (6) has/have at least one adhesion area (10, 12, 14, 16) that comprises a second plastic (18), - wherein the second plastic (18) is more flexible than the first plastic (8) so as to increase static friction.