Modular Building Profile with Quick-Connect Couplings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building profiles are labor-intensive and time-consuming to erect due to the need for multiple workers to hold stakes and timber in place, and they are often discarded after use due to difficulty in disassembly and reuse, with excessive material waste and transportation challenges.
Innovation Solution
A building profile system featuring a pair of support legs with a cross member that can be easily fastened and disassembled without tools, along with a marker stand for precise positioning, allowing single-person setup and efficient disassembly for reuse, using clamps and adjustable components for alignment and attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional building profiles use stakes and timber planks fastened with nails, then the structure is stable and rigid, but it requires multiple workers to hold components in place during assembly and is difficult to disassemble for reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The building profile is divided into separate modular components: support legs with bases, cross members, and string holders. These segmented components can be independently assembled and disassembled using the quick-connect mechanism, eliminating the need for multiple workers to hold entire rigid structures during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
A quick-connect coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary between the support legs and cross members. This coupling device enables rapid tool-free connection and disconnection, allowing single-worker assembly while maintaining structural stability during use. The coupling acts as a mediator that provides both ease of operation and assembly speed.
2Strength
If building profiles are constructed with traditional nailed joints, then the structure is strong and stable, but it is time-consuming to disassemble and reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system transitions from static permanent joints (nails) to dynamic reversible joints (quick-connect couplings). This allows the structure to be easily assembled and disassembled while maintaining structural integrity during use. The dynamic connection enables rapid reconfiguration and reuse without time-consuming disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular components with quick-connect mechanisms enable easy recovery and reuse of building profile elements. Instead of discarding nailed timber components after use, the system allows rapid disassembly and recovery of intact components for repeated use, significantly reducing material waste and time loss.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple workers are used to erect conventional building profiles, then proper positioning is achieved, but labor requirements increase and assembly becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs incorporate self-aligning bases that automatically position themselves during insertion into the ground or attachment to existing structures. The quick-connect couplings feature self-aligning mechanisms that guide cross members into correct positions, enabling single-worker assembly with high positioning accuracy without complex alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs and cross members are pre-designed with integrated connection features and alignment elements. The bases are pre-configured for ground insertion or wall attachment, and the quick-connect couplings are pre-engineered to automatically align components. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for multiple workers to manually position and align components during assembly.
4Reliability
If traditional building profiles are used, then they provide adequate marking functionality, but they are heavy and bulky making transportation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The building profile system is segmented into separate lightweight components: support legs, cross members, and string holders. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for minimal weight while maintaining structural integrity and marking reliability. The modular nature enables easy transportation and storage compared to traditional solid timber profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs and cross members are constructed from composite materials or lightweight alloys that provide high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the structure to maintain adequate strength and stability for reliable marking functionality while significantly reducing the weight and bulk for easier transportation by single workers.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a building profile including a pair of support legs, a cross member for removably fastening to the pair of support legs and from which a line can extend; a marker stand for engaging with the line, wherein the marker stand includes a point position marker for marking a position on the ground, a support for supporting the point position marker and an upright indicator for indicating whether the point position marker is in an upright position.