Integrally Formed Window Frame Fitting for Lightweight Masonry Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern building walls made of lightweight materials, such as perforated bricks, pose challenges in securely fastening windows and doors due to low load-bearing capacity, particularly in withstanding wind loads and preventing displacement or breakage from impact forces.

Innovation Solution

A fitting with a spacer section and a retaining portion, integrally formed with multiple fastening means, is used to securely attach window or door frames to a reveal, ensuring even distribution of impact forces and independence of fastening points across different masonry blocks, enhancing reliability and security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single through-hole fitting is used to fasten window frames to lightweight masonry, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the load-bearing capacity and reliability are insufficient to withstand impact forces and wind loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening reliabilityVSAvoidfitting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting is divided into two separate components: a profile rail that engages with the window frame and a retaining piece that fastens to the masonry wall. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the profile rail for structural engagement and the retaining piece for secure anchoring - thereby improving overall fastening reliability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The profile rail acts as an intermediary element between the window frame and the retaining piece. It transfers and distributes the impact forces and wind loads from the window frame through the retaining piece to the masonry wall, enabling reliable fastening without requiring direct attachment and allowing the system to handle high loads through force distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If fastening points are placed close together in the fitting, then the device complexity is low, but the load distribution is uneven and failure of one fastening point compromises the entire system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening reliabilityVSAvoidfitting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the fitting into a profile rail and a retaining piece with multiple through-holes, the system creates multiple independent fastening points distributed across different locations. This segmentation ensures that if one fastening point fails, the other points continue to provide support, maintaining system reliability without requiring complex load-distribution mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining piece is designed with multiple through-holes arranged in different spatial positions, extending the fastening points across multiple dimensions. This dimensional distribution of fastening points allows forces to be evenly distributed across the masonry wall structure, preventing localized stress concentration and ensuring that failure of one point does not compromise the entire fastening system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3333350B1Fitting for securing window and door frames to a soffit and process that uses such fittings
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 WURTH INT AG
  • EP3333350B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3333350B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4

AI summary

Fitting for securing window and door frames to a reveal, comprising a spacer section (3) for resting against the reveal of a window or door opening for holding an adjustment element (5) arranged perpendicular to the spacer section (3) and engaging with the window or door frame, and a retaining section (7) adjoining the spacer section (3) and having at least two devices for arranging fastening means, in particular at least two through-holes (9), for fastening the retaining section (7) to the reveal, characterized in that the spacer section (3) and the retaining section (7) are formed integrally.