Suction Cup Display Mounting Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional advertising boards are temporary, environmentally unfriendly, require skilled personnel, and are difficult to mount on modern glazed buildings without damaging them, posing safety hazards and being easily stolen or damaged.
Innovation Solution
A clamping and suction cup-based apparatus for removably mounting advertising boards to building surfaces, allowing single-person installation without tools or specialist skills, using a clamping portion with rotatable clamp members and suction cups for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional timber supporting structures are used to mount advertising boards, then the boards can be displayed locally, but the timber is costly, environmentally unfriendly, and requires skilled personnel for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional timber-based mechanical mounting system with a suction cup-based system that uses vacuum pressure instead of mechanical fastening. This eliminates the need for skilled personnel to assemble timber structures and install them using drills and screws, while the entire mounting apparatus can be simply attached to glass surfaces by applying vacuum through the suction cups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental mounting parameter from mechanical connection (screws, nails, timber joints) to vacuum adhesion. By utilizing the vacuum pressure parameter, the system achieves secure mounting on glazed surfaces without requiring complex timber structures or skilled installation personnel, thereby simplifying both manufacture and installation.
2Reliability
If screws or timber structures are fixed to the building, then the advertising board can be securely mounted, but the building integrity is compromised and the timber is not reusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the invasive mechanical fastening system (screws penetrating into the building structure) with a non-invasive vacuum suction system. The suction cups attach to the external glass surface without penetrating or damaging the building, thereby maintaining building integrity while providing secure mounting through vacuum adhesion forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cup acts as an intermediary between the advertising board and the building surface. Instead of directly fastening the board to the building structure (which would compromise integrity), the suction cup mediates the connection by creating a vacuum seal on the glass surface, providing secure attachment without damaging the building.
3Ease of operation
If timber supporting structures are used, then advertising boards can be displayed, but the structures are easily stolen, damaged, or taken down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical timber structure system with a vacuum-based mounting system. The suction cups create strong adhesion to the glass surface through vacuum pressure, making the mounted board difficult to remove or steal without damaging the suction cups themselves. This provides enhanced security while maintaining ease of installation and removal by the same person using simple operation.
4Productivity
If conventional mounting methods are used, then advertising boards can be displayed, but they pose hazards to pedestrians in high wind conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid timber structure system with a flexible vacuum-mounted system. The suction cups can accommodate movement and pressure changes better than rigid timber structures, and the direct mounting to the glass surface eliminates loose timber components that could detach and endanger pedestrians during high wind conditions, while maintaining effective advertising display.
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
Provides a reusable, safe, and secure mounting solution for advertising boards on buildings, eliminating the need for timber structures and reducing environmental impact while ensuring stability against wind and theft.
Implementation Method 1
a lever-actuated mechanism for moving the cup part with respect to the cup body and the support surface to thereby create or release a vacuum inside the cup part to mount or remove the apparatus on or from the support surface
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application describes apparatus (100) for mounting a display board to a support surface, comprising a mounting portion (104) for mounting the apparatus to the support surface, a clamping portion (102) for clamping an edge region of the display board to the apparatus, wherein the clamping portion comprises a base member (106) for receiving the edge region of the display board and a clamp member (108) moveable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the base member, and a locking portion (124,126,128) for releasably locking the clamp member in the closed position.