Roofing Device Rafter Holder Longitudinal Latching Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roofing systems face challenges in varying the angle of rafters and roof panels due to structural or local conditions, leading to manufacturing and calibration tolerances that require adjustments during assembly, which can result in errors and the need for additional components like bridging pieces or new parts.

Innovation Solution

A roofing device with a longitudinal beam profile featuring a bearing profile section and a rafter holder with a wrap-around portion for form-fitting mounting, along with latching and counter-latching means that engage during longitudinal displacement, allowing for secure and adjustable assembly without manual adjustments, ensuring correct infill dimensions and thermal expansion joint alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of rafter holder position is used during assembly, then adaptability to structural conditions is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to accumulating tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to structural conditionsVSAvoidinfill dimension accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining exact positioning locations for rafter holders using latching means that engage with bearing profile sections at predetermined intervals. This eliminates the need for manual adjustment during assembly, as the rafter holders are automatically positioned at correct locations before assembly begins, preventing tolerance accumulation while maintaining adaptability to different structural conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If rafter holders are positioned to accommodate thermal expansion, then adaptability is improved, but assembly time increases due to measurement and calibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal expansion accommodationVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing profile sections are pre-marked with latching locations that automatically account for thermal expansion requirements. During assembly, workers simply engage the latching means at these pre-defined positions without needing to measure or calculate expansion gaps, thus maintaining adaptability while dramatically reducing assembly time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by having the latching means automatically position rafter holders at correct intervals that inherently accommodate thermal expansion. The structure itself provides the positioning information through the bearing profile sections, eliminating the need for external measurement and calibration activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If latching means are provided at multiple locations, then reliability of positioning is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the bearing profile into multiple discrete bearing profile sections, each with its own latching location. This segmentation allows reliable positioning at multiple locations along the roof structure while keeping each individual latching mechanism simple and modular, thus improving overall positioning reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3505701B1Covering device and method for producing same
Publication Date: 2020.07.15 KNEER INGO
  • EP3505701B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3505701B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3505701B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a roofing device, in particular a terrace roof, comprising: a longitudinal beam profile designed to support a rafter holder and comprising a bearing profile section; a rafter holder for supporting a rafter on the longitudinal beam profile, wherein the rafter holder has a gripping section corresponding to the bearing profile section, which is designed for positive locking on the bearing profile section, wherein the longitudinal beam profile has a locally limited insertion section in the longitudinal direction, at which the bearing profile section is recessed in such a way that it can be inserted into the gripping section of the rafter holder for assembly, wherein the gripping section is designed to be longitudinally displaceable on the bearing profile section and a positive locking connection between the gripping section and the bearing profile section can be established by longitudinal displacement.and wherein a locking means is provided on the gripping section of the rafter holder and a longitudinally acting counter-locking means is provided on the bearing profile section of the longitudinal beam profile, the latter being arranged longitudinally offset from the insertion section and capable of engaging with one another by longitudinally displacing the gripping section on the bearing profile section. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a roofing device.