Rod-Shaped Counterpart for Thin-Walled Panel Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mounting a counterpart behind a thin-walled panel, especially in narrow or hard-to-reach spaces, is challenging due to difficulties in aligning and securing the counterpart, leading to potential detachment and local deformations during fastener installation.

Innovation Solution

A device with a rod-shaped counterpart and an auxiliary assembly part that can be fixed to the counterpart on the front side of the panel, allowing it to be clamped and aligned on the back side, ensuring secure positioning and preventing detachment during assembly, with adhesive elements for temporary fixation and a flexible guide element for easy alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the counterpart is mounted on the back side of the thin-walled panel in narrow or hard-to-reach spaces, then the fastener can be securely connected to the panel, but it becomes difficult to align and position the counterpart accurately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure connection of fastener to panelVSAvoidalignment accuracy of counterpart
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

An auxiliary assembly part is introduced as an intermediary component that can be fixed to the counterpart and placed on the front side of the panel. This auxiliary part serves as a mediator that allows the counterpart to be clamped and aligned from the accessible front side, rather than requiring direct manipulation from the inaccessible back side. The auxiliary assembly part includes alignment features and clamping mechanisms that enable precise positioning of the counterpart through the panel opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of attempting to align and position the counterpart from the back side of the panel (where space is limited), the alignment process is inverted by working from the front side. The auxiliary assembly part is attached to the counterpart, extended through the panel opening, and aligned on the front side where adequate working space is available. This inversion of the alignment approach transforms an inaccessibile back-side operation into an accessible front-side operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the counterpart is secured with a thread or wire from the back side, then it can be held during assembly, but reliable positioning and alignment are hardly possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of counterpart during assemblyVSAvoidpositioning and alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary assembly part acts as a mediator that provides both stabilization and alignment functionality. It includes clamping elements that secure the counterpart to the panel (providing stability) and alignment features such as guide pins or positioning surfaces that ensure accurate positioning. By integrating both functions into the auxiliary part that operates from the front side, the patent simultaneously achieves stable securing and precise alignment, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the counterpart is held by a user during assembly, then it can be positioned, but it may detach and fall down, requiring realignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual positioning of counterpartVSAvoidretention of counterpart during assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary assembly part provides self-service functionality by automatically clamping and securing the counterpart to the panel once positioned. The clamping mechanism may include spring-loaded elements, cam actions, or threaded fasteners that automatically engage and lock the counterpart in place without requiring continuous manual holding. This self-securing mechanism ensures the counterpart remains reliably positioned throughout the assembly process, eliminating the need for user intervention to prevent detachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a large-area counterpart is used to distribute forces, then local deformations are prevented, but mounting in narrow spaces becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal deformations of panelVSAvoidmounting difficulty in narrow spaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system is segmented into two distinct components: the counterpart that remains on the back side of the panel (providing the large-area force distribution function), and the auxiliary assembly part that is attached to the counterpart and extends through the panel opening to the front side (providing the alignment and clamping functions). This segmentation allows the large-area counterpart to maintain its force-distributing geometry while the auxiliary part handles the difficult mounting operations from the accessible front side, thereby resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2876313B1Device for arranging a counterpart behind a thin-walled panel
Publication Date: 2017.10.11 LINDEMANN TIM
  • EP2876313B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2876313B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2876313B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for arranging a counterpart (2) behind a thin-walled plate (5) by means of a pulling element (3), wherein the device (1) comprises the counterpart (2) and the pulling element (3), wherein the counterpart (2) is rod-shaped, rigid and made in one piece and has a sectionally differently oriented course, and wherein the counterpart (2) has a receiving device (6) spaced apart from the ends (13, 14) of the counterpart (2) for securing a fastening element (18), so that the counterpart (2) can be guided through an opening (4) of the plate (5) from a front (16) to a back (17) of the plate (5), and can be temporarily pulled and secured to the back (15) of the plate (5) by the pulling element (3) through the opening (4).and subsequently the fastening element (18) is connected to the counterpart (2) and the counterpart (2) can be permanently pressed and fixed to the rear (15) of the plate (5) together with the fastening element (18) in order to clamp the fastening element (18) together with the counterpart (2) to the plate (5).