Plastic Nail and Plug Fastener for Clean Drywall Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fasteners used to mount objects on surfaces like plaster or drywall often leave unsightly holes and can damage the surface when removed, and there is a need for a strong, easily installable and removable fastener system that can be cleaned up without damaging the surface.

Innovation Solution

A fastener system comprising a nail and a corresponding plug, both formed from engineering plastic, with an arm that connects them for ease of use and safety, where the arm can be easily broken away to allow the plug to fill the hole left by the nail, providing secure gripping features like flanges to prevent hole enlargement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If hollow fasteners are used for strength, then the fastening strength is improved, but the hole size increases and surface damage occurs when removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening strengthVSAvoidsurface damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is divided into two separate components: a fastener for initial mounting and a plug for hole filling. The fastener provides strength during installation, while the plug is designed to fill the hole after removal, eliminating surface damage without requiring the fastener itself to be hollow or large.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hole-filling function is extracted from the fastener and implemented as a separate plug component. This allows the fastener to be simple and strong, while the plug specifically addresses the surface damage issue by filling the hole after fastener removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If conventional fasteners are removed from the surface, then the fastener can be taken down, but unsightly holes are left and surface integrity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastener removalVSAvoidsurface integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The plug is prepared in advance and designed to fit the hole created by the fastener. After the fastener is removed, the plug is inserted to fill the hole, restoring surface integrity. This preliminary preparation of the plug ensures that the surface is restored without requiring complex repair procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If the arm connecting the fastener and plug is made strong, then handling safety is improved, but the arm cannot be easily broken away for plug removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearm strengthVSAvoidarm separation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The arm has different structural properties at different locations: the central region has uniform width for strength during handling, while the regions near the frangible junctions have reduced width to create weak points. This local variation in geometry allows the arm to be both strong during use and easily separable when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11428254B2Fastener system

Publication Date: 2022.08.30 DUBROSKY & TRACY PATENT SERVICE

AI summary

A fastener system includes a fastener or nail for mounting objects on a surface and a corresponding plug for filling a hole left when the nail is removed from the surface. The nail and plug are formed of an engineering plastic, and may be formed from recycled materials. In embodiments, the nail and plug are joined by an arm which is easily broken away. In embodiments, the fastener and plug each have a plurality of flanges which provide strength and grip the surface.