Removable Screw Cover Fastener for Prefinished Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening systems, such as screws, are aesthetically unpleasing when visible and difficult to locate or remove, especially in prefinished materials, as hiding screw heads often damages the finish and complicates removal.
Innovation Solution
A fastening system comprising a screw element with a piercing tip and a head featuring a recess for a cover member, which can be easily installed, colour-matched, and removed without damaging the surrounding material, using a cover member that securely engages with the screw element to conceal the fastening point and minimize weather exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If screw heads are hidden by filling and painting, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but location and removal of fasteners becomes difficult and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into separate components: the screw element and the cover member. The cover member can be independently removed to expose the screw head, allowing easy location and removal of the fastener without damaging the surrounding material. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the aesthetic function (cover) from the fastening function (screw).
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member acts as an intermediary between the screw head and the surrounding material. It provides a removable interface that hides the screw head when in place (improving aesthetics) but can be easily removed to expose the screw head for location or removal (maintaining ease of operation). The cover member mediates between the conflicting requirements of hiding and accessing the fastener.
2Shape
If screw heads are obscured by filler material and paint, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but removal of screws risks damage to the finish and installation
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the cover member from the screw element, the system allows the cover to be removed without affecting the screw or the surrounding finish. The cover can be independently detached, enabling safe removal of the fastener without risking damage to the prefinished material or its factory-applied finish.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member serves as a protective intermediary that can be removed to access the screw. When the cover is in place, it protects the screw head and the surrounding finish. When removal is needed, the cover can be taken off first, allowing the screw to be accessed and removed without directly contacting or damaging the prefinished surface.
3Manufacturing precision
If prefinished materials are used, then manufacturing quality is improved, but hiding screw heads becomes ineffective and removal risks damaging the finish
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fastening function into two parts: the screw element for secure attachment and the cover member for aesthetic coverage. This segmentation allows the use of prefinished materials while maintaining aesthetic appearance, as the cover member (not the material surface itself) provides the hiding function. The cover can be colour-matched to the prefinished material.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member acts as an intermediary aesthetic element that interfaces with the prefinished material. Rather than attempting to hide the screw head directly in the prefinished surface (which would damage it), the cover member provides a separate, removable aesthetic layer that can be colour-matched to the prefinished material, preserving both the quality of the prefinished surface and the aesthetic appearance.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved fastener comprising: a screw element (1) and a cover member (11). The screw element (1) comprising a shank member (2) having comprising a piercing tip (6) at a first end of the shank member and a head (7) at a second end of the shank member. The head of the screw comprising a first recess (9) for releasably engaging an instrument of rotation and a second recess (10) extending from the first recess into the shank member for releasably engaging a shank portion (14) of a cover member (11). The cover member (11) comprising a capping portion (12) having a first face (13), a second face (17) and a shank portion (14) extending substantially orthogonally from the first face (13) of the capping portion (12), the shank portion (14) being releasably engagable with the second recess (10) of the screw element (1).