Slats Fastening Bridge Structure Prevents Bending

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for fastening slats to a flat surface are prone to slat breakage under high pressure and are laborious to lay, with longitudinal grooves weakening the slats and complicating the installation process.

Innovation Solution

A system featuring a base with bridge structures that support the slats, preventing bending and distributing stress, combined with a rotatable body for easy slat removal and repositioning, addresses the issues of slat breakage and installation complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If longitudinal grooves are provided in slats for fastening locking elements, then slats can be stably fastened to the surface, but the slats are weakened at the edges and prone to breaking under high pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening stabilityVSAvoidslat edge strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The base is divided into multiple functional components: a main base body for fastening to the support surface, and multiple bridge structures that are integrally associated with the base. These bridge structures extend into the interspaces between slats and provide support without requiring grooves in the slats themselves, thereby segmenting the support function between the base and the bridge structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge structures act as intermediary elements between the base and the slats. They are positioned in the interspaces between adjacent slats and provide upward support to prevent bending, mediating the force transmission from the support surface through the base to the slats without directly contacting or weakening the slat edges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If locking elements are inserted into longitudinal grooves and fastened with screws in a sequential manner, then slats can be individually secured, but the installation procedure becomes awkward and laborious

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual slat securingVSAvoidinstallation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge structures are pre-positioned and integrally associated with the base before the slats are installed. This preliminary arrangement of support elements eliminates the need for sequential insertion of locking elements into grooves during installation, as the bridge structures are already in place to provide support when slats are laid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base and bridge structures are combined into a single integral component rather than separate parts. This merging eliminates the need for separate locking elements and simplifies the installation process to laying slats directly on the support surface with the integrated base and bridge structures providing both anchoring and support functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If bridge structures are added to support slats and prevent bending, then slat breakage risk is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslat bending resistanceVSAvoidbase structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge structures are integrally associated with the base, meaning they are combined into a single monolithic component rather than separate parts. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for additional fastening elements or assembly steps between the base and bridge structures, while still providing the necessary support function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base structure serves multiple functions: it is fastened to the support surface to provide anchoring, and the integrally associated bridge structures extend from the base into the interspaces between slats to provide support and prevent bending. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4062008B1System for fastening slats
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 PONTAROLO ENG SPA
  • EP4062008B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4062008B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4062008B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a system (1) for fastening to a flat surface (2) slats (3) having a rectangular or square plan shape predisposed to be arranged two by two side by side and spaced mutually apart in order to make, totally or partially, a flooring (4) or wall or ceiling, this system (1) comprising: - a base (5), which can be integrally associated with a flat surface (2), this base (5) being configured for positioning above and/or laterally thereto at least two slats (3) in a laying condition in which they are side by side and spaced mutually apart; - constraining means (6, 19) of this base (5) to two of these slats (3) positioned above and/or laterally thereto in the laying condition; - supporting means (22) of at least one of two of these slats (3) positioned above and/or laterally to the base (5) in the laying condition, adapted to prevent or limit the bending of this at least one slat (3) towards the base (5), in which the supporting means (22) comprise at least one bridge structure (22) defined by two legs (23), projecting from the base (5) and spaced mutually apart, connected above by a crosspiece (24) which defines, on the opposite side to the base (5), an abutment surface (24a) adapted to be positioned between the base (5) and a portion (26) of one of two of these slats (3) positioned above and/or laterally to the base (5) in the laying condition, to prevent or limit the deformation of this portion (26) towards the base (5).