Stone Decorative Bar With Hidden Metal Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Natural stone bars used in architectural applications lack robust reinforcement for tensile strength, leading to fragility and the need for supportive fixtures that can damage the brittle material, and existing reinforcement methods involve substantial cuts or openings that weaken the stone structure.

Innovation Solution

A decorative bar comprising a natural stone rod with a longitudinal groove and a metal armature or bracketed support member, where the metal brace fills the groove and has flanges for attachment to a surface, providing tensile strength without substantial stone removal, and an adhesive bonds the stone to the metal for structural unity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If natural stone bars are used for architectural purposes, then aesthetic appeal and durability in compression are achieved, but tensile strength is insufficient leading to cracking under lateral forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidresistance to cracking

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines natural stone with metal reinforcement elements to create a composite bar structure. The metal components provide tensile strength while the stone maintains its aesthetic and compressive properties, resolving the contradiction between stone's natural beauty and its weakness in tension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Metal reinforcement elements are embedded within the stone bar structure. The metal components are nested inside or attached to the stone, creating a hierarchical structure where each material performs its optimal function - stone for aesthetics and compression, metal for tensile reinforcement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If metal rods are embedded in stone bars for reinforcement, then tensile strength is improved, but substantial cuts or openings in the stone weaken the structure and make it more fragile

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making substantial cuts through the entire stone bar, the patent applies metal reinforcement locally - either as surface-mounted brackets or as shallowly embedded elements at critical stress points. This localized approach provides tensile reinforcement without compromising the overall structural integrity of the stone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial embedding or surface attachment of metal elements rather than complete penetration through the stone. This partial action provides sufficient reinforcement for the expected loads without the excessive stone removal that would weaken the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If supporting fixtures are used to hold reinforced stone bars, then the bars can be installed for use, but the fixtures must grip or clamp the outer surface of the stone which is subject to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinstallabilityVSAvoiddamage to stone surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the mounting function directly into the metal reinforcement elements. The same metal components that provide tensile reinforcement also serve as the attachment mechanism for mounting the bar, eliminating the need for separate supporting fixtures that would clamp on the stone surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The metal reinforcement elements perform multiple functions simultaneously: they provide tensile strength reinforcement, serve as structural connectors, and act as mounting fixtures. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional components that would contact and potentially damage the stone surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution enhances the robustness and practicality of natural stone bars, allowing for broader applications by providing tensile strength without weakening the stone structure, while maintaining an attractive appearance and ensuring stability against lateral forces.

Implementation Method 1

an adhesive bonds the stone to the metal for structural unity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS9578999B2Decorative stone and metal bar for architectural use

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 SCHWARTZ ROBERT

AI summary

A decorative bar, configured to be mounted on a surface (wall or floor) of a room or building, comprises (a) an elongate rod formed of natural stone and having a substantially constant cross-sectional shape from a first end to an opposite, second end and a longitudinal groove extending along one side, and (b) an elongate metal armature or brace having a portion thereof inserted in and substantially filling the longitudinal groove in the stone rod. The metal brace has a flange or bracket at each end configured to be attached to the surface (wall or floor) of a building to affix and retain the stone rod in a mounted relationship to this surface with its longitudinal groove on a side which is not readily visible to a casual observer.