Adjustable Roof Support Foot for Vertical Mounting on Sloped Flat Roofs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roof support systems for flat roofs with slopes between 2° and 7° are not fully satisfactory as they do not allow the support foot to stand vertically, compromising water drainage and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A support foot system with an adjustable skid part and guiding structure that can position a profiled section vertically or horizontally, even on inclined roofs, using an arched path and tensioning means for securement, allowing the support foot to adapt to different roof slopes and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a support foot is placed on a flat roof with a slope, then the base part assumes an inclined position, but the profiled section cannot stand vertically
Solution Approach 1:
The skid part is made movable along an arched guiding structure, allowing dynamic adjustment of the profiled section's inclination angle. This enables the system to adapt to different roof slopes while maintaining vertical orientation of the profiled section, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and shape stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The arched guiding structure introduces a new degree of freedom by allowing movement along a curved path. This dimensional change enables independent adjustment of the profiled section's angle relative to the base plate, decoupling the orientation from the roof slope and allowing vertical positioning despite inclined installation surface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support foot is designed to be adjustable for different slopes, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support foot is divided into distinct functional components: a base plate for mounting, a movable skid part for positioning, and an arched guiding structure for constraint. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply, reducing overall complexity while achieving adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The arched guiding structure uses a simple curved geometry to provide both guidance and adjustment capability. The arc shape naturally constrains the skid part's movement path while allowing angular adjustment, achieving adaptability through a geometrically simple form rather than complex mechanical mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A support foot for supporting a free standing structure on a flat roof includes a holding means for holding a profiled section to which other parts of said structure can be mounted. The support foot comprises a base part with a guiding structure. The support foot furthermore comprises a skid part, which includes the holding means for the profiled section and which is slidably mounted on the guiding structure of the base part so as to position the holding means for the profiled section in a desired angular position allowing to compensate for a possible slope of the flat roof. The support foot also includes securing means for securing the skid part in said desired angular position on the base part.