Light Well Body Locking Mechanism for Tool-Free Height Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light well body systems face challenges in quick and simple height adjustment and assembly, requiring complex and time-consuming processes, especially when loosening screws to adapt to different floor levels.

Innovation Solution

A light well body system with a locking element that can be manually adjusted between release and engagement positions, allowing for height adjustment without loosening screw connections, ensuring a secure and immovable connection to the wall, and featuring a locking mechanism that can be easily rotated and moved to facilitate assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the light shaft body is connected to the wall with screw connections, then a secure connection is achieved, but height adjustment becomes complex and time-consuming requiring loosening screws

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidheight adjustment simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is segmented into a locking element with locking area, allowing the connection to be divided into adjustable segments. The locking element can be positioned at different locations along the locking area to achieve height adjustment without loosening screw connections, resolving the contradiction between secure connection and ease of adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking element is designed to be movable along the locking area during assembly, enabling dynamic adjustment of the light shaft body height. After positioning, the locking element secures the connection, providing both adjustability and stability without requiring screw loosening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the light shaft body is made adjustable in height after wall connection, then floor level adaptation is possible, but assembly time and effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloor level adaptationVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element is preliminarily positioned along the locking area before final securing. This allows the light shaft body to be quickly adjusted to the correct height by simply moving the locking element to the appropriate position, without requiring complex adjustment procedures or additional tools, thus maintaining high assembly speed while achieving floor level adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If a locking mechanism is added to enable height adjustment without loosening screws, then assembly time is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element serves multiple functions: it provides the locking action to secure the light shaft body to the wall, enables height adjustment by being movable along the locking area, and maintains connection security when engaged. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving faster assembly.

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

4Ease of operation

If the locking element is designed for manual movement between engaged and released positions, then tool-free operation is achieved, but the mechanism requires more manual manipulation steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool-free adjustmentVSAvoidmanual manipulation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element acts as an intermediary between the light shaft body and the wall, providing a simple manual interface for adjustment. By moving this single intermediary component between engaged and released positions, the operator can achieve height adjustment without tools, and the simple design minimizes the manipulation time required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2857611B1Light shaft system and process to mount a light shaft system
Publication Date: 2017.11.08 ACO SEVERIN AHLMANN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2857611B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2857611B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2857611B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A light well body system (5) is shown, comprising a locking element (30, 30') for connecting the light well body system (5) to a wall of a building, and a light well body (10) with a locking area (20, 20') for receiving a part of the locking element (30, 30'), wherein the locking element (30, 30') can be connected to the wall such that the locking element (30, 30') is essentially immovable parallel to the surface of the wall, and is designed such that in an engagement position it engages in an engagement recess (25, 25') of the locking area (20, 20') in such a form-fitting manner that the light well body (10) is essentially immovably connected to the wall along a longitudinal direction of the locking area (20, 20'), and that the The locking element (30, 30') in a release position allows the light shaft body (10) to be moved relative to the locking element (30,30') essentially along the longitudinal direction of the locking area (20, 20').