Screw-Free Fitting Assembly for Shower Rail Attachment and Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fitting assemblies for attaching pipes and rails in shower areas require multiple components and small grub screws, leading to cumbersome installation, potential corrosion, and difficulty in adjusting or removing them without damage.
Innovation Solution
A fitting assembly using a clamp with an axially extending split and a cover that secures the elongate member through friction, where the cover slides onto a bracket with ribs to compress the clamp, providing a secure and adjustable attachment without screws, and featuring a modular design with snap-fit components for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple component parts and small grub screws are used to secure pipes and rails, then the attachment can be secured to the surface, but the installation procedure becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (bracket, collar, clamp, finger) into an integrated assembly where the collar and clamp form a unified clamping mechanism. The bracket incorporates both the mounting function and the clamping activation mechanism (finger), reducing the number of separate parts needed and simplifying the installation process while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the collar is positioned within the bracket, and the clamp is integrated with the collar. The finger extends from the bracket to actuate the clamp. This nested arrangement allows compact assembly and enables quick installation by simply sliding the collar over the elongate member and allowing the finger to automatically engage and secure it.
2Reliability
If small grub screws are used to secure components together, then the components can be attached, but the screws may corrode over time or become lodged with debris making removal difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the small grub screws from the assembly. Instead of using threaded fasteners, the design relies on friction-based clamping where the clamp compresses the collar against the elongate member. This removal of screws eliminates corrosion and debris accumulation issues while maintaining secure attachment through continuous frictional contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp mechanism is designed to automatically engage and secure the collar to the elongate member through friction. The finger actuates the clamp to compress the collar, creating a self-securing connection that does not require additional fastening operations. This self-service mechanism allows for easy adjustment and removal by simply releasing the clamp compression.
3Ease of operation
If a simple clamp design is used, then the installation is easier, but the load-bearing capability and stability may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining the bracket (mounted to surface), collar (receiving elongate member), and clamp (providing clamping force) made from durable materials suitable for shower environments. This composite assembly distributes loads across multiple components, enhancing overall strength and stability while maintaining ease of installation through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is designed with a curved, circumferential structure that wraps around the elongate member, distributing clamping forces evenly around the circumference. This curved geometry provides superior contact area and load distribution compared to linear clamping mechanisms, enhancing both strength and stability while keeping the installation process simple.
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
Facilitates quicker and easier installation of elongate members by eliminating the need for screws, reducing corrosion risks, and allowing for secure, adjustable, and modular attachment to surfaces, enhancing stability and load-bearing capability.
Implementation Method 1
The collar having an axially extending split, the clamp further comprising a finger extending outwardly from the collar
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A fitting assembly (1) for attaching an elongate member (5) to a surface (17) within a shower or bath area (18), the fitting assembly comprising: a clamp (3) comprising a collar (10) arranged to receive and abut the elongate member, the collar having an axially extending split (8), the clamp further comprising a finger (9a, 9b) extending outwardly from the collar adjacent one side of the split; a cover (4) comprising an aperture (12) arranged to receive the elongate member, the cover arranged to retain the clamp within such that the collar is axially aligned with the aperture; and a bracket (2) arranged to be fixed to the surface and to receive and retain the cover containing the clamp, the bracket comprising a receiving portion (15a, 15b) arranged to urge the finger so as to compress the collar portion at the split, thereby clamping the elongate member within the collar.