Snap-Locking Clamp for Variable Barrier Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamps for technical structures are not modular, requiring different types for varying barrier thicknesses, leading to inefficiencies in production, management, and installation, with aesthetic and safety drawbacks due to visible screws and potential unlocking issues.
Innovation Solution
A clamp design featuring an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and a snap-locking system without screws, allowing for easy adjustment and secure locking across different barrier thicknesses, enhancing production efficiency, installation ease, safety, and aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different types of clamps are produced for various barrier thicknesses, then the clamps can effectively satisfy every specific need, but the production efficiency decreases and warehouse management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp body is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate barriers of different thicknesses through adjustable clamping arms. The clamping arm can be positioned at multiple locations along the barrier thickness, allowing a single clamp type to serve multiple thickness requirements. This eliminates the need to produce different clamp types for each barrier thickness while maintaining adaptability to various specific needs.
2Reliability
If screws are used for clamp fixing, then the clamp can be securely fixed to the barrier, but the aesthetic appeal decreases and safety issues arise from potential unscrewing
Solution Approach 1:
The screw fastening system is completely removed from the clamp design. Instead of using visible screws to secure the clamping arm to the barrier, the invention employs a snap-fit mechanism where the clamping arm engages with corresponding features on the clamp body through elastic deformation and geometric interlocking. This extraction of the screw element eliminates both the aesthetic degradation caused by visible fasteners and the safety hazards associated with potential unscrewing, while maintaining secure fixing through the snap-fit connection.
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 clamp achieves standardized production and simplified installation, ensuring secure locking without screws, improving safety, and enhancing aesthetic appeal by eliminating visible fasteners, thus addressing the inefficiencies and drawbacks of conventional clamps.
Implementation Method 1
the thrust means comprises a spring (33) provided with two ends and two pins (32) fixed to said ends of the spring
Data Source
Figure 1A~1F
Figure 2A~4D
Figure 5~6B
AI summary
A clamp (10) for the composition of a technical structure for furniture, protection and/or delimitation provided with vertical elements, the clamp (10) comprises an upper jaw (1), a lower jaw (2) and a locking system (3) fixed to said upper jaw (1). The locking system (3) comprises thrust means (33) and at least one pin (32). The lower jaw (2) has at least one hole (7) in a position corresponding to at least one pin (32) adapted to be inserted into said at least one hole (7) when said thrust means (33) are in an extended position, in order to lock and close the clamp (10).