Pipe Safety Plate with Bent Edges for Stud Gap Protection
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety plates in building construction are ineffective when stud gaps are larger than the plate, leading to weak points and incomplete protection of pipes and wiring, and often require attachment to studs, which is not always feasible.
Innovation Solution
A safety plate shaped complementary to a pipe with inwardly bent edges or adhesive properties that can be secured via tension or adhesion, allowing it to be positioned directly on or within a pipe without requiring attachment to studs, thus providing comprehensive protection regardless of stud spacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional safety plates are secured to studs, then they can prevent nail penetration, but they create weak points when stud gaps are larger than the plate and require additional plates that compromise protection
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of securing the safety plate to the stud as in traditional designs, this invention inverts the attachment approach by securing the plate directly to the pipe itself. The bent edges engage with the pipe surface, making the pipe the anchor point rather than the stud, thereby eliminating gaps and weak points between multiple plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety plate is positioned within the pipe aperture in the stud, effectively nesting the protection device inside the structural opening. This allows the plate to be secured to the pipe while remaining positioned within the stud framework, providing continuous protection without requiring multiple external plates.
2Area of stationary object
If safety plates are made larger to cover bigger areas, then coverage is improved, but unsecured overhanging edges create instability and improper protection
Solution Approach 1:
The safety plate incorporates bent edges that curve inward toward the plate body, creating a configuration that conforms to the cylindrical shape of the pipe. This curvature allows the plate to wrap around and engage with the pipe surface, providing stable attachment and full coverage without unsecured overhanging edges.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple safety plates are combined to cover larger gaps, then coverage area increases, but weak points are created at the junctions between plates
Solution Approach 1:
This invention merges the functions of multiple plates into a single integrated unit. The plate is designed with bent edges that allow it to span and secure to the pipe in one continuous piece, eliminating the need for multiple separate plates and the weak junction points that would exist between them.
4Ease of manufacture
If safety plates are secured to studs, then installation is straightforward, but it requires additional labor and time for attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The safety plate is designed to be self-securing to the pipe through its bent edges that engage with the pipe surface. The plate's own structure provides the attachment mechanism, eliminating the need for separate fasteners or complex installation procedures, thereby reducing installation time and labor while maintaining ease of installation.
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 solution ensures reliable protection of pipes and wiring without the need for multiple plates or stud attachment, reducing installation time and labor costs while maintaining strong resistance against punctures.
Implementation Method 1
the first side comprises an adhesive for coupling to a pipe or other surface needing protection from nails, screws, or other devices that may puncture the item
Implementation Method 2
a first edge bent inwardly toward the first side, and second edge bent inwardly toward the first side, the bent edges allowing the safety plate to be secured to a pipe via tension
Data Source
AI summary
A safety plate has a first, concave side for abutting a pipe, a second, convex side opposite the first, concave side, an arcuate portion interposed between a first linear portion and a second linear portion, a first edge on the first arcuate portion, and a second edge on the second arcuate portion; wherein the distance between the first and second edges is less than an exterior diameter of the pipe. A method of using a safety plate involves forcing the first side of the safety plate to abut the pipe, the safety plate extending around at least half of the circumference of the pipe.