Toggle Anchor Assembly for Hollow Joist Railing Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Securing railing panel systems to hollow joists, such as hollow metal joists, presents challenges due to the inaccessibility of the underside, making it difficult to thread nuts onto bolts, and existing toggle bolt anchors may not provide sufficient strength or require additional features for secure tightening.
Innovation Solution
A toggle bolt system with a flexible positioning member, such as a string, and a toggle anchor that is larger than the joist diameter, allowing secure mounting from the top side by preventing rotation within the joist cavity, and optionally using a double toggle anchor for increased strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a bolt is used to secure the railing panel to hollow joists, then the connection strength is improved, but the underside accessibility is required which is not available in hollow joists
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of threading the nut from the accessible top side and requiring underside access to tighten, the patent inverts the approach by threading the nut from the top side and using a lever arm that extends through the hollow joist cavity to provide tightening force from the top, eliminating the need for underside access
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lever arm as an intermediary component that transmits the tightening force from the nut (on the top side) to the bolt (inside the hollow joist cavity), enabling the fastening operation to be completed from the accessible top side without requiring underside access
2Length of moving object
If extended length bolts are used to reach through the joist, then the connection is achieved, but the threading operation becomes difficult when underside is inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional fastening sequence by threading the nut from the top side before insertion, and then using a lever arm to rotate the bolt into the nut from the top side, rather than attempting to thread the nut onto the bolt from the bottom side
Solution Approach 2:
The lever arm serves as an intermediary tool that enables the threading operation to be performed from the top side by providing the rotational force needed to screw the bolt into the nut, eliminating the need for underside access to perform the threading operation
3Ease of operation
If a C-channel anchor is used, then the toggle bolt function is achieved, but the connection strength may be insufficient for certain applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite construction for the anchor assembly, combining a C-channel member with a flat plate member welded together, creating a stronger composite structure that maintains the toggle bolt functionality while significantly increasing the connection strength to handle heavier loads
4Strength
If a stronger connection is required, then the anchor structure is reinforced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the C-channel member and flat plate member into a single welded assembly, creating a stronger anchor structure. The welding process, while adding a step, uses standard fabrication techniques that are commonly available, balancing the strength enhancement with manageable manufacturing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A toggle anchor system includes a toggle anchor having a top surface with a top surface length, a bottom surface with a bottom surface length that is less than the top surface length, a threaded through hole that extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, and a pair of positioning holes that each extends from the top surface to the bottom surface. The system further includes wherein each of the respective positioning holes are positioned on opposing sides of the threaded through hole and a flexible positioning member having a pair of ends and each end of the flexible positioning member extends through each of the respective pair of positioning holes. The system also includes a fastener having a threaded shaft coupled to the threaded through hole.