Information Sign Lateral Screw Protrusion and Spacer Collar Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing signs with transparent cover discs and spacers for sheet-shaped information carriers face challenges in easy mounting due to uncomfortable screw head gripping surfaces and potential slippage during assembly, particularly with stainless steel spacers and glass panes.
Innovation Solution
Designing bores in the discs to be open towards the edges with retaining screws protruding laterally, using plastic injection-molded spacers and acrylic glass panes to reduce play and enhance gripping, and incorporating collars on spacer projections that rest against the disc edges for improved stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If flat screw heads are used for aesthetic reasons, then the appearance is improved, but the gripping surface becomes too narrow for comfortable manual operation
Solution Approach 1:
The screw head is given a circumferential extension in the radial direction, transforming a two-dimensional flat surface into a three-dimensional annular gripping surface. This dimensional change provides sufficient gripping surface area while maintaining the flat aesthetic appearance from the front view.
2Shape
If stainless steel spacers and glass panes are used, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the play between projections and bores increases causing slippage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The collars are designed to engage with the disc edges before the retaining screws are fully tightened. This preliminary mechanical interlocking action prevents slippage during the assembly process and maintains stability throughout operation, addressing the reliability issue before the fastening is complete.
3Shape
If the bores are positioned away from the edges for aesthetic reasons, then the appearance is improved, but the mounting becomes more difficult due to limited access
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the bores away from the edges to achieve aesthetic appearance, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the bores at the edges where access is easiest, and uses collars to conceal the aesthetic impact. This inversion prioritizes ease of manufacture while maintaining appearance through alternative means.
4Reliability
If plastic injection-molded spacers and acrylic glass panes are used instead of stainless steel and glass, then the play between components is reduced improving stability, but the material pairing changes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameters of the spacer and pane components from stainless steel and glass to plastic injection-molded parts and acrylic glass. This parameter change reduces the clearance between projections and bores, improving assembly stability while maintaining the functional requirements of the sign structure.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Information sign comprises holes (3, 4) open to the edges of plates (1, 2) for the protrusion (12) of a spacer (6) and a holding screw (17) protruding with a part of the periphery of its head (18) laterally over the edges of the plates. Preferred Features: The spacer is formed as an injection molded part. The plates are made from acrylic glass. The protrusions are guided into the holes of the plates in a play-free manner.