Tool-Free Roof Hook Assembly With Height-Adjustable Locking Foot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roof hooks for attaching mounting rails to roof structures are difficult to assemble, often requiring tools and are prone to losing small parts like screws, especially when compensating for unevenness in the roof structure.
Innovation Solution
A roof hook design featuring a latching foot and connecting section that allows for height-adjustable snapping without tools, using separate components with locking elements that can be easily aligned and locked without screws, providing stepped height adjustment and secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a screw device is used for height adjustment, then the mounting rail can be securely attached to the roof hook, but assembly becomes difficult and requires tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the screw-based mechanical fastening system with a spring-loaded ball detent system. The ball element engages with recesses in the base support to provide height adjustment and locking, eliminating the need for screws and tools while maintaining secure attachment. The spring provides continuous pressure to keep the ball engaged with the selected recess.
Solution Approach 2:
The roof hook design allows the height adjustment and locking mechanism to operate without external tools or assistance. The spring-loaded ball automatically engages with the recesses at different heights, and the operator can simply press the release element to change positions, making the system self-sufficient for adjustment operations.
2Reliability
If a screw device is used for height adjustment, then the mounting rail can be securely attached, but small parts like screws can easily fall down and be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the fastening function into the main body of the roof hook by incorporating the spring-loaded ball mechanism directly into the height adjustment structure. The ball and recesses are built-in components that cannot be lost, eliminating the separate screw fasteners that were previously prone to being dropped and lost during assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the locking foot and base support are separate components, then assembly becomes easier, but the components must be precisely aligned during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide elements or alignment features on the locking foot and base support that facilitate precise alignment during assembly. These intermediary alignment features ensure that the locking foot correctly positions relative to the base support recesses, making the separate component design practical and easy to assemble.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a roof hook for attaching a mounting rail to a roof structure, comprising a base support for attaching the roof hook to the roof structure, a rail support for attaching the mounting rail to the roof hook, a locking foot and a connecting section that connects the locking foot to the rail support, wherein the locking foot is designed to lock into the base support in a height-adjustable manner, and wherein the locking foot and the base support are designed as separate components.