Kit and assembly comprising devices for fixing heating or air conditioning apparatus, and method for changing heating or air conditioning apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of heating or air conditioning devices often requires specific drilling into surfaces, which is time-consuming, requires precision, and can damage insulation and aesthetics, especially when replacing devices, as existing solutions do not efficiently adapt to pre-drilled holes or various device types.

Innovation Solution

A fixing kit comprising fixing devices with anchoring and coupling holes or projections that can align with pre-existing holes, allowing the heating or air conditioning device to be attached without additional drilling, by using oblong or slotted holes and adjustable projections to accommodate different hole configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional fixing methods with specific drilling are used, then the heating or air conditioning device can be securely fixed to the surface, but the installation process becomes time-consuming and requires precision drilling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing securityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing a template with pre-marked hole positions that guide the drilling process. The template is placed on the surface before drilling to indicate exactly where holes should be made, eliminating the need for measurement and positioning during installation. This pre-prepared guidance system speeds up installation while ensuring correct hole placement for secure fixing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The template serves as an intermediary tool between the installer and the surface. It translates the required hole positions into visible markings, acting as a mediator that simplifies the complex positioning task. The template with its pre-defined hole patterns mediates between the device mounting requirements and the surface geometry, enabling quick and accurate hole placement without requiring installer expertise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If new holes are drilled in the surface for fixing the device, then secure attachment is achieved, but the surface insulation is damaged and aesthetics are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidsurface damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by providing a template with more hole positions than actually needed for the specific device being installed. The template contains pre-drilled holes for various device types and sizes, allowing the installer to use only the necessary subset of holes. This prevents excessive drilling while still providing comprehensive coverage for different installation scenarios, thereby reducing surface damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The template embodies discarding and recovering by being a reusable guide that can be used across multiple installation projects. Instead of creating new positioning aids for each installation, the same template is discarded after use and recovered for future applications. This reduces waste and minimizes the need for new positioning materials that would require additional surface intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Adaptability or versatility

If universal mounting kits are used to adapt to different devices, then versatility is improved, but the assembly process becomes more complex and does not adapt to existing holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a template that serves multiple functions: it guides hole positioning for various device types, provides alignment references, and accommodates different mounting configurations. The single template replaces multiple device-specific positioning tools, enabling one tool to perform multiple functions across different installation scenarios, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The template embodies dynamics by being adaptable to different installation scenarios without requiring physical modification. The pre-marked hole positions can accommodate various device types and sizes, allowing the same template to dynamically adjust to different mounting requirements. This dynamic adaptability eliminates the need for complex adjustable mechanisms while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3418648B1Kit and assembly comprising devices for fixing heating or air conditioning apparatus, and method for changing heating or air conditioning apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 THERMOR SA
  • EP3418648B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~3
  • EP3418648B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The subject of the present invention is a kit for fixing a heating or air conditioning device to a surface, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of fixing devices (1) and a support on which the heating or air conditioning device conditioning is intended to be hooked, an anchoring hole (4) being formed in each fixing device (1), each fixing device (1) further carrying a coupling means (3) with the support, said support comprising a plurality of hooking means, and each hooking means of the support being adapted to be fixed directly in a preformed hole in the surface or fixed in the preformed hole in the surface by means of one of said devices fixing device (1), the anchoring hole (4) of each fixing device (1) then being intended to cooperate with the preformed hole in said surface, the coupling means of each fixing device (1) being configured to cooperate with the hooking means age of said support. The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising said fixing kit, as well as to a method for changing a heating or air conditioning device.