Insulation Anchor Flange Countersinking for Hard Plaster Layers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insulation anchors struggle to easily penetrate and securely attach to the hard plaster layer of thermal insulation composite systems, particularly when attaching fixtures like mailboxes or outdoor lights.

Innovation Solution

An insulation anchor with a hollow shaft, a conical drill bit, and a flange that facilitates easy penetration and secure attachment by creating a countersink in the plaster layer, utilizing a large-surface insulation thread and secondary thread for enhanced grip and penetration, along with cutting edges for efficient material removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional insulation anchor is used, then the anchor can be installed in the insulation material, but it cannot easily penetrate or securely attach to the hard plaster layer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of penetration and attachmentVSAvoidsecure attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor is divided into functionally distinct segments: a drill bit for penetrating the hard plaster layer, an insulation thread for securing to the insulation material, and a flange for providing a mounting surface. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function, resolving the contradiction between ease of penetration and secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the anchor have different local properties: the drill bit has a conical shape with cutting edges for easy penetration, the insulation thread has a large surface area with high thread flank for secure grip, and the flange has a specific geometry for mounting. This local differentiation enables the anchor to simultaneously achieve ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If an insulation thread with large surface area is used, then the grip in the insulation material is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip in insulation materialVSAvoidthread design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thread design uses specific parameter optimization: a thread diameter of 20-50 mm and a thread flank height that is at least 1.5 times the core diameter. These parameter changes increase the grip surface area and mechanical engagement without requiring complex multi-component designs, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a flange with cutting edges is added to create a countersink, then the attachment security is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The flange with cutting edges is merged into a single integral component with the hollow shaft and insulation thread, rather than being a separate part. This merging provides the attachment security benefits of a countersinking flange while avoiding the manufacturing complexity of assembling multiple components, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4459138B1Insulation material anchor
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 FISCHERWERKE ARTUR FISCHER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4459138B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4459138B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4459138B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an insulation anchor (1) for fastening an attachment such as a mailbox or an outdoor light to an external thermal insulation composite system. The invention proposes providing end cutting edges (26) on a front face (10) of a flange (5) at a rear end (6) of the insulation anchor (1), which, when the insulation anchor (1) is screwed in, can mill a countersink for the flange (5) into a hard plaster layer of the external thermal insulation composite system.