Article for mounting on an inclined or vertical surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mounting articles on inclined or vertical surfaces can be challenging due to the need for special tools or skills, leading to insecure attachments that may result in the articles falling or becoming damaged, especially when subjected to forces from pets or children.
Innovation Solution
The use of reclosable fastener material with apertures and pockets allows for secure attachment to elongate fasteners driven into the surface, providing flexibility in mounting options without requiring specialized tools or skills, using either adhesive-backed complementary fastener strips or screws/nails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If special tools or skills are used for mounting, then secure attachment is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: the article with integrated fastener material and the complementary fastener strips. This segmentation allows the fastening function to be distributed, enabling tool-free application by simply pressing the components together while maintaining secure attachment through the mechanical interlocking of the fastener materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The reclosable fastener material is designed to be self-adhesive or self-fastening, eliminating the need for external tools or specialized skills. The user can directly apply the article to the surface by pressing the complementary fastener strips together, and the system serves itself by maintaining the connection through the inherent properties of the fastener material without requiring additional fastening actions.
2Reliability
If traditional mounting methods are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener material is integrated directly into the article structure, merging the mounting function with the article itself. This eliminates the need for separate mounting hardware, brackets, or additional components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining secure attachment through the unified fastening system.
Solution Approach 2:
The reclosable fastener material serves multiple functions: it provides secure attachment to vertical surfaces, allows for easy removal and reattachment, and can be applied without tools or specialized skills. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate systems, thereby simplifying the overall mounting solution while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If reclosable fastener material is used, then ease of operation improves, but attachment security may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener material design incorporates interlocking surfaces with complementary geometric features that create a mechanical engagement similar to curved or spherical interlocking. This geometric interlocking provides strong attachment security while maintaining ease of operation through simple pressing and releasing actions without requiring tools.
Data Source
AI summary
An article for mounting on an inclined or vertical surface includes at least one piece of reclosable fastener material, collectively comprising a plurality of apertures formed therein; and at least one pocket, located within the article behind said piece(s) of reclosable fastener material, each of the apertures providing a respective passageway from the pocket(s) to an exterior of the article. Each aperture permits a head of an elongate fastener to be inserted therethrough, so that the elongate fastener can be retained within the pocket(s), and the plurality of apertures thereby allowing the article to hang from a plurality of elongate fasteners that have been driven into the surface.