U-Shaped Pipe Holder With Segmented Barbs for Secure Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe holders for surface heating systems fail to maintain secure fixation, especially when laying pipe bends, as the barbs compress in one direction and slide out through elongated holes in the insulation film, leading to insufficient support and potential dislodgment.

Innovation Solution

A U-shaped holder with inner and outer barbs divided by V-shaped incisions, allowing multiple barbs to engage at angles greater than 0° and less than 90°, increasing the number of barb sections and their multidirectional mobility, ensuring secure hooking and lateral support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the barbs are compressed in one direction when pressed into the film, then the holder is easy to install, but the barbs slide out through the pierced hole when lateral forces act on the holder

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidholding power
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The barbs are divided into multiple barb sections by incisions, transforming a single barb into multiple segmented barbs. This segmentation allows the barbs to distribute lateral forces across multiple contact points on the foil, preventing slippage while maintaining ease of installation through the same insertion mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the barbs are positioned to support the holder, then the holder provides stable fixation, but the barbs cannot support themselves when the holder is loaded laterally by pipe bends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation stabilityVSAvoidresistance to lateral load
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The incisions create barb sections that can deflect in multiple directions rather than being constrained to a single plane. This multidimensional mobility allows the barbs to adapt to lateral forces from pipe bends by distributing loads across different angular orientations, enhancing both stability and lateral load resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the number of barbs is increased to improve holding power, then the holder provides better fixation, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding powerVSAvoidholder structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding multiple separate barbs as distinct components, the invention segments existing barbs through incisions. This creates multiple barb sections from single barb structures, increasing holding power through increased contact points while avoiding the complexity of assembling multiple separate barb components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The enhanced holder design significantly improves holding power by distributing lateral forces and preventing barb slippage through the foil, maintaining secure fixation even under bending loads and minimizing foil damage during installation.

Implementation Method 1

the barb has increased elasticity or flexibility, namely in the direction of the associated shaft and not in the opposite direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2759719B1Holder for mounting pipes on a support
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 KERMI GMBH
  • EP2759719B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2759719B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2759719B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The holder (1) has a bar (1.3) connecting two legs (1.1, 1.2). The holder is designed in a U-shape. The legs include inner and outer barbed hooks (1.4, 1.5), which are divided into barbed hook sections (1.5n) by slots (1.6) such that a number of the barbed hooks is increased. The slots are designed in a V-shape. The barbed hook sections are provided diagonal relative to each other. The inner and outer barbed hooks are compressed during penetration into an insulation and a plastic film. The barbed hook sections are downwardly supported at the film.