Lignocellulosic Nail Geometry for Secure Facade Panel Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wooden nails are not suitable for securely attaching facade panels to a substructure due to undefined depth of penetration and risk of slippage, limiting their holding power.

Innovation Solution

A nail with a circular cross-section shank, a concave outer surface transition region, and a cylindrical nail head that is 25-40% larger in diameter than the shank, providing enhanced pull-out strength and secure hold, made from lignocellulosic materials like wood or synthetic resin-bonded laminated wood.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional wooden nails are used for attaching facade panels, then the nail can be driven into the substrate, but the penetration depth cannot be precisely determined and the facade panels may slip off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding powerVSAvoidpenetration depth control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The nail features a differentiated structure with a head portion, transition area, and shaft portion, where each section has specific geometric properties. The head portion has a larger diameter than the shaft, creating a mechanical interlock system where the concave transition area provides precise penetration depth control while the head provides secure anchoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The transition area between the head and shaft features a concave curvature with a specifically defined radius of curvature (≥0.3 mm). This curved geometry enables precise control of penetration depth by determining when the nail head contacts the substrate surface, while also providing a mechanical interlock that prevents slippage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Strength

If the nail head diameter is increased to provide better support, then the pull-out strength improves, but the nail becomes more difficult to drive into the substrate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepull-out strengthVSAvoidease of driving
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The nail employs a differentiated diameter design where the head portion has a larger diameter (25-40% larger than the shaft) to provide pull-out strength, while the shaft maintains a smaller, more manageable diameter for easy driving. The transition area smoothly connects these two sections with a concave curvature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The concave transition area with radius of curvature ≥0.3 mm creates a gradual geometric transition between the head and shaft. This curved geometry allows the nail to be driven easily while ensuring the head provides sufficient support surface area for secure anchoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If the transition area is made smooth and continuous, then the nail can be easily manufactured by turning, but the anchoring effect may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemanufacturabilityVSAvoidanchoring effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The transition area features a concave curvature with a specifically defined radius of curvature (≥0.3 mm) that can be easily produced by turning or lathe work from bar stock. This curved geometry inherently provides mechanical interlocking capability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through conventional cylindrical processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP4027026B1Nail, in particular for use in a nailing apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 RAIMUND BECK NAGELTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP4027026B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4027026B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4027026B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a nail, particularly for use in a nail-setting device, which consists of a material that is exclusively or predominantly lignocellulosic and comprises a nail shaft (2) defining a nail axis (X), a nail tip (3) arranged at the front end of the nail shaft (2), and a nail head (4) arranged at the rear end of the nail shaft (2), the nail head being wider than the nail shaft (2), wherein the nail shaft (2), the nail tip (3), and the nail head (4) have a circular cross-section, and the nail shaft (2) and the nail head (4) are connected by a transition region (5) that widens towards the nail head (4), the annular outer surface of which is concavely curved towards the nail axis (X). The present invention further relates to the use of such a nail.