Railing Device Plug-On Hook-In Slot Scaffold Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railing devices for scaffolding often require complex alignment and can unintentionally detach during installation, posing safety risks and assembly challenges due to their design, particularly when transitioning from a vertical to a horizontal installation position.

Innovation Solution

A railing device with a railing bar featuring attachment and hanging slots that allow for universal attachment options and improved assembly safety, designed to pivot securely from a vertical or oblique intermediate position to a horizontal installation position, ensuring secure hanging and preventing unintentional lifting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the locking element is designed with a slot or widened hook mouth to ensure captive fastening, then the railing device can be securely fastened to the scaffolding post, but the installation process becomes more complex and requires precise alignment at approximately 45 degrees

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecaptive fasteningVSAvoidalignment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element is divided into distinct functional zones: a first zone with an open slot for easy insertion from multiple directions, and a second zone with a widened hook mouth for secure engagement. This segmentation allows the coupling element to provide both easy installation and reliable fastening without requiring precise 45-degree alignment throughout the entire insertion process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling element acts as an intermediary component between the railing device and the scaffolding post. Its specially designed geometry with both open slot and widened hook mouth regions provides a transition zone that guides the installation process, allowing the railing to be attached securely without requiring precise pre-alignment of the entire assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the hook opening encloses an acute angle of approximately 45 degrees with the longitudinal axis to ensure proper engagement, then the railing device can be securely fastened, but the installation process becomes more time-consuming and requires additional alignment steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement securityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element is divided into distinct functional zones: a first zone with an open slot for easy insertion from multiple directions, and a second zone with a widened hook mouth for secure engagement. This segmentation allows the coupling element to provide both easy installation and reliable fastening without requiring precise 45-degree alignment throughout the entire insertion process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling element is pre-designed with the optimized geometry featuring the open slot and widened hook mouth regions. This preliminary design ensures that during installation, the coupling element naturally guides itself into the correct engagement position without requiring the installer to manually align components at specific angles, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining secure fastening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the railing device is pivoted upwards from a vertical intermediate position to a horizontal installation position, then the railing can be properly installed, but the hook can be inadvertently lifted out of the rosette during the pivoting process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidfastening security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element is divided into distinct functional zones: a first zone with an open slot for easy insertion from multiple directions, and a second zone with a widened hook mouth for secure engagement. This segmentation allows the coupling element to provide both easy installation and reliable fastening without requiring precise 45-degree alignment throughout the entire insertion process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling element's geometry is designed to prevent the harmful action of the hook being lifted out of the rosette during pivoting. The widened hook mouth region and open slot configuration create a mechanical interlock that resists upward lifting forces that may occur during the transition from vertical intermediate position to horizontal installation position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Ease of manufacture

If the coupling element has a simple hook shape for easy manufacturing, then production costs are reduced, but the fastening reliability and resistance to unintentional detachment are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling element fabricationVSAvoidfastening security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element is divided into distinct functional zones: a first zone with an open slot for easy insertion from multiple directions, and a second zone with a widened hook mouth for secure engagement. This segmentation allows the coupling element to provide both easy installation and reliable fastening without requiring precise 45-degree alignment throughout the entire insertion process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the coupling element have different geometric properties optimized for their specific functions. The first zone features an open slot configuration for easy insertion, while the second zone features a widened hook mouth for secure engagement. This local differentiation of geometric qualities allows the coupling element to achieve both ease of manufacture and high fastening reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4416349B1Railing device
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 WILHELM LAYHER VERWALTUNGS GMBH
  • EP4416349B1 patent drawingFigure 1.1~1.2
  • EP4416349B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4416349B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a railing device (20) having a railing bar (21) which extends in the direction of its railing bar longitudinal axis (22) and which has at least two railing bar ends (26.1.1, 26.1.2) which extend away from one another in opposite directions. At least one railing bar end (26.1.1, 26.1.2) of the railing bar ends (26.1.1, 26.1.2) has a plug-on and hook-in slot (27.1.1, 27.1.2) for plugging and hooking at least one railing bar end (26.1.1, 26.1.2) onto or into a railing fastening device of a scaffold strut or of a scaffold pole. When considered in a transverse direction perpendicular to the railing bar longitudinal axis (22), the plug-on and hook-in slot (27.1.1, 27.1.2) is outwardly open towards lateral surfaces (28.1.2, 28.2.2), which extend away from one another, of the, or of the respective, railing bar end (26.1.1, 26.1.2) and is also outwardly open in a first direction (36) transversely or perpendicularly to the transverse direction. The plug-on and hook-in slot (27.1.1, 27.1.2) has a first slot part (37.1.1), which is outwardly open in the first direction (36) and extends in a first slot part direction, a first transition slot part (38.1.1), which is connected to said first slot part, and a second slot part (37.1.2), which is connected to said first transition slot part and which extends away from the first slot part (37.1.1) in a second slot part direction which encloses, with the first slot part direction, an angle of greater than or equal to 45 degrees or of greater than or equal to 60 degrees or of greater than or equal to 90 degrees.