Tactile Stud Preformed Protrusion Mechanical Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tactile nail installation methods face issues with poor positioning due to variations in hole axes and contact surfaces, leading to ineffective fixing and increased costs from chemical sealing, which also prevents easy removal and does not address perpendicularity problems.
Innovation Solution
A tactile nail with a preformed rod featuring a protruding volume, such as a sphere, that allows for a tight fit without chemical sealing, enabling forceful insertion and adjustment for correct positioning, and a specialized tool for installing the nail using a pestle and sleeve to ensure proper alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical sealing product is used to guarantee fixing freedom, then the nail can be securely fixed, but the installation cost and time increase, and the nail cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the chemical sealing product from the installation process entirely, replacing it with a mechanical retention system. The rod includes an elongated retention portion with transverse projection elements that mechanically engage with the hole walls, eliminating the need for chemical adhesives while maintaining secure fixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism with a mechanical retention system. The transverse projection elements on the retention portion create physical interlocking with the hole walls through friction and normal forces, substituting the chemical adhesion mechanism with pure mechanical engagement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If chemical sealing product is used to allow freedom of positioning, then the nail can accommodate variations in hole axis, but the product may overflow creating burrs and extra thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the chemical sealing product that causes overflow problems. The mechanical retention system using transverse projection elements does not involve liquid or semi-liquid materials that can overflow, thus preventing burr formation and extra thickness issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the retention mechanism from chemical (dosable) to mechanical (fixed geometry). The transverse projection elements have predetermined dimensions that provide positioning freedom without the risk of overflow, as mechanical elements cannot exceed their fixed geometric boundaries.
3Ease of operation
If hole diameter is oversized to allow freedom of positioning, then the nail can be inserted despite perpendicularity variations, but the fixing effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates different functional zones on the rod: the main rod body provides structural support, while the elongated retention portion with transverse projection elements provides localized mechanical engagement. This local quality differentiation allows the retention portion to accommodate positioning variations while maintaining effective fixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse projection elements on the retention portion create a mechanical engagement system that can accommodate angular variations similar to how spherical surfaces accommodate misalignment. The projection elements can engage at slight angles, providing tolerance for perpendicularity variations while maintaining secure fixation.
4Ease of manufacture
If plastic plugging is used instead of chemical sealing, then the installation process is simplified, but the anchoring operation remains long and less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The retention portion with transverse projection elements is pre-formed on the rod during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that the mechanical engagement features are already in place, eliminating the need for separate plugging operations and providing immediate anchoring effectiveness upon insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the rod structure and the retention function into a single integrated component. The elongated retention portion is formed as an integral part of the rod, merging the structural element with the anchoring mechanism, thereby simplifying the installation process while maintaining effectiveness.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tactile paving stud (100) comprising a stem equipped (110) at one end with a head (120) and fitting into a hole (T), remarkable in that said stem (110) is pre-formed over at least part of its length to present a volume (130) which, protruding from the surface of the stem (110), is dimensioned to allow a tight fit with the hole (T) receiving said stud (100).