Rotating Sign Suspension Arm With Axial Fixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suspension devices for signs and posters in stores face issues with flexibility in mounting orientation, tilting, and axial displacement, often requiring multiple parts and complex assembly, which complicates installation and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A suspension device with a circular or segmental arm portion, featuring a frictional fixing member and rotating suspension members with stop and sliding surfaces, allowing free rotation and axial fixation, enabling easy installation and reconfiguration with a minimal number of parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the arm is provided with a longitudinal slit and suspension members are rigidly fastened, then axial fixing is achieved, but the device loses flexibility in mounting orientation and creates tilting effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial fixingVSAvoidmounting orientation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension member is designed to rotate freely about the arm portion while maintaining axial positioning. The sliding surface enables dynamic adjustment of the suspension member's angular position, allowing the device to adapt to different mounting orientations and eliminate tilting effects while preserving axial stability through the friction surface and stop faces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If friction fit is used to fix the suspension member axially, then axial displacement is prevented, but the suspension member cannot rotate freely and remains tilted after being knocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial fixationVSAvoidrotation freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The interaction between the suspension member and arm portion is segmented into two independent functional interfaces: a sliding surface that permits free rotation about the arm portion, and a friction surface with stop faces that prevents axial displacement. This segmentation allows rotational freedom and axial fixation to coexist without interfering with each other

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If slide fitting is used to allow free rotation, then rotation freedom is achieved, but axial fixing is insufficient and requires additional end stops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation freedomVSAvoidaxial fixing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The friction surface and stop faces are integrated into a single fixing member that combines axial fixation functionality with the rotational freedom provided by the sliding surface. This merging eliminates the need for separate end stops while maintaining both rotation freedom and adequate axial fixing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If multiple separate parts are used to achieve both axial fixing and rotation freedom, then functional requirements are met, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional performanceVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing member integrates multiple functions into a single component: the sliding surface enables rotation freedom, the friction surface provides axial fixation, and the stop faces limit axial displacement. This consolidation reduces the number of parts and simplifies assembly while maintaining reliable functional performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device ensures that information carriers remain vertically oriented and securely fixed, allowing for flexible mounting orientations and easy assembly, while minimizing axial displacement and tilting effects.

Implementation Method 1

a friction surface which, by frictional engagement with the arm portion, prevents axial displacement of the fixing member along the arm portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a sliding surface, which in contact with the fixing member or the arm portion allows rotation of the suspension member about the arm portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSliding friction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

two stop faces, each of which is arranged to limit, in contact with one respectively of the butt faces of the fixing member, axial displacement of the suspension member along the arm portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2244611B1Suspension device
Publication Date: 2013.01.16 HL DISPLAY AB
  • EP2244611B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2
  • EP2244611B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d
  • EP2244611B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5c

AI summary

Device for the suspension of information carriers, such as signs, posters and the like, which device comprises a fixing part (10, 10'), which is configured to allow the device to be fixed to a shelf or the like, an arm (20, 20') projecting from the fixing part and having an arm portion (21, 22), the cross-sectional periphery of which essentially forms a circle or a segment of a circle, and a suspension member (30, 50-50''''), which is disposed on the arm portion. The device also comprises a fixing member (40-40'''), which is fixable to the arm portion and comprises a friction surface (45-45''') which, by frictional engagement with the arm portion, prevents axial displacement of the fixing member along the arm portion, and two butt faces (43-43'''). The suspension member comprises two stop faces (54-54''''), each of which is arranged to limit, in contact with one respectively of the butt faces of the fixing member, axial displacement of the suspension member along the arm portion, as well as a sliding surface (53-53''''), which in contact with the fixing member or the arm portion allows rotation of the suspension member about the arm portion.