Panel Mount With Segmented Clamp Jaws for Misaligned Glass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for mounting glass panes are cumbersome due to their heavy and inflexible nature, requiring complex alignment and drilling, which is time-consuming and inefficient, especially when the glass pane does not align perfectly with the mounting slots.
Innovation Solution
A panel mount system featuring clamp jaws with elongate slots, a foot for securing to a structure, and threaded fasteners that can be actuated to clamp the glass pane in place without penetrating it, allowing for misalignment accommodation and secure fastening without drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glass panes are mounted using traditional drilling and fastening methods, then secure mounting is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp jaw is segmented into multiple sections that can move independently, allowing the glass pane to be clamped without requiring precise alignment between the mounting bracket and the glass edge. The segmented structure accommodates misalignment by allowing individual segments to adjust to the actual position of the glass pane.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping mechanism uses adjustable clamping force parameters to secure the glass pane effectively even when alignment is not perfect. By varying the clamping force and distribution, the system achieves reliable mounting without requiring precise initial alignment.
2Reliability
If glass panes are drilled for mounting, then secure fastening is achieved, but the glass integrity is compromised and the process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fastening function from the glass pane itself and transfers it to the clamp jaw mechanism. Instead of drilling holes in the glass to receive fasteners, the clamp jaw provides the fastening structure externally, eliminating the need for drilling and preserving glass integrity while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp jaw acts as an intermediary between the mounting bracket and the glass pane. It provides the fastening mechanism without requiring direct penetration of the glass, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and eliminating drilling operations while still achieving secure attachment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If mounting brackets are secured to fixed structures, then stable support is achieved, but the slot orientation may not align with the desired glass pane position
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp jaw incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities that allow it to adapt to different slot orientations and glass pane positions. The movable segments and adjustable clamping mechanisms enable the bracket to maintain stable support while accommodating variations in orientation, thereby resolving the conflict between stability and adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and secure mounting of glass panes without the need for precise alignment or drilling, accommodating slight misalignments and providing a robust clamping mechanism that maintains the pane in place effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The clamp members, when clamped down on the pane, provide frictional resistance to any forces tending to move the pane from its desired position
Implementation Method 2
US4,054,268 discloses a panel mounting system wherein a panel is held in a slot between two clamp jaws, wherein the panel is clamped in the slot against a wedge connected to and pivoting from one of the clamp jaws
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention is a panel mount for non penetrative fastening of a panel (such as a glass pane). The panel mount has clamp jaws defining an elongate slot in which an edge of a panel can be received. A foot is provided for mounting and fastening the clamp jaws to a structure. At least one of the clamp jaws carries at least one threaded fastener that can be actuated by a user, including when the foot is fastened to the structure. The threaded fastener(s) of the at least one clamp jaw, in cooperation with the other clamping jaw, is capable of operatively clamping the panel to hold it in the slot, irrespective of any non-parallel disposition of the plane of the panel to the elongate direction of the slot.