Stud Wall Support Assembly for Retrofit Through-Hole Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Creating a through-hole in a stud wall after construction requires deconstructing and rebuilding the wall, leading to additional costs, material waste, and potential delays, while compromising structural and safety standards.

Innovation Solution

A support assembly comprising bridge portions fixed to studs and filler pieces with boards to structurally support the through-hole, maintaining integrity and safety standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a through-hole is created after stud wall construction, then access for wires/plumbing/ventilation can be provided, but the wall must be deconstructed and rebuilt causing additional costs, material waste, and delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess for wires/plumbing/ventilationVSAvoiddelays in building process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support assembly is installed on the stud wall before the through-hole is formed, preparing the structural support in advance. This preliminary action allows the through-hole to be created without subsequent deconstruction and rebuilding, eliminating delays in the building process while maintaining adaptability for future wire/plumbing/ventilation access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If a through-hole is created after stud wall construction, then access for wires/plumbing/ventilation can be provided, but deconstruction and rebuilding incurs additional costs and material waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess for wires/plumbing/ventilationVSAvoidmaterial waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The support assembly is installed beforehand to provide structural support before the through-hole is formed. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for deconstruction and rebuilding, preventing material waste while maintaining the adaptability needed for wire/plumbing/ventilation access through the through-hole

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a through-hole is created after stud wall construction, then access for wires/plumbing/ventilation can be provided, but structural and safety standards may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess for wires/plumbing/ventilationVSAvoidstructural and safety standards
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support assembly is installed in advance on the stud wall to provide structural support before the through-hole is formed. This preliminary structural reinforcement ensures that when the through-hole is created for wire/plumbing/ventilation access, the structural and safety standards are maintained and not compromised

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support assembly acts as an intermediary element between the stud wall and the through-hole. It provides the necessary structural support and maintains safety standards while allowing the through-hole to be created for access to wires/plumbing/ventilation systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4647562A1Support assembly
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 BETAN LTD
  • EP4647562A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4647562A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4647562A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is disclosed a support assembly for providing structural support to a through-hole to be formed in a stud wall, the support assembly comprising: a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion, the first and second bridge portions each configured to be fixed to studs of the stud wall via a first face of the stud wall, wherein each of the first and second bridge portion: is elongate and comprises a first connection portion and a second connection portion such that when the first connection portion overlaps a first stud of the stud wall, in an in-use position and orientation on the first face, the second connection portion overlaps a second stud of the stud wall; a plurality of filler; and a plurality of boards configured to be fixed to the plurality of filler pieces and to cover up the set of through-hole boundary faces.