Toggle Anchor Assembly for Varying Wall Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall anchor technologies are inadequate for securely fastening elongated fasteners in walls of varying thicknesses, particularly in hollow walls made of friable materials like gypsum, as they fail to provide consistent and reliable anchoring.
Innovation Solution
An anchor assembly comprising a strap member, a toggle member pivotally mounted to the strap, and a locking member that is displaceable between positions for insertion and secure engagement behind the wall, ensuring the wall is imprisoned between the toggle and locking members, allowing for the secure attachment of a fastener.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing wall anchor technologies are used, then installation is simple, but they fail to provide consistent and reliable anchoring in walls of varying thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle member is designed to dynamically change its configuration from a linear alignment during insertion to a perpendicular orientation behind the wall. This dynamic transformation allows the anchor to adapt to different wall thicknesses while maintaining secure anchoring, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor assembly changes the geometric parameter of the toggle member's orientation angle as it passes through the wall. By transitioning from 0 degrees (aligned with strap) during insertion to 90 degrees (perpendicular to strap) behind the wall, the system achieves both reliable anchoring and adaptability to varying wall thicknesses.
2Reliability
If the toggle member is aligned with the strap for insertion, then installation is easy, but the anchor cannot securely imprison the wall
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle member automatically transitions from a linear configuration (easy insertion) to a perpendicular configuration (secure imprisonment) as it passes through the wall. The spring mechanism provides the dynamic force needed for this transformation, ensuring both ease of operation and reliable anchoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggle member is pre-configured in a linear alignment with the strap to facilitate easy insertion through the wall hole. Once inserted, the spring automatically activates to transform the toggle to a perpendicular orientation, securing the wall between the toggle and locking member without requiring additional manual operations.
3Reliability
If the toggle member is displaced to extend behind the wall at an angle, then the wall is securely imprisoned, but the insertion process becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle member's automatic dynamic transformation from linear to perpendicular orientation eliminates the need for complex manual manipulation. The spring-loaded mechanism provides the necessary force for this transformation, maintaining anchoring security while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggle member performs its own transformation from insertion configuration to anchoring configuration automatically after passing through the wall. The spring mechanism provides self-service by automatically displacing the toggle to the perpendicular position without requiring additional user intervention, thus maintaining simplicity despite the complex motion required.
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 anchor assembly effectively secures elongated fasteners to walls of various thicknesses by ensuring the toggle and locking members abut the wall's opposed sides, providing a stable and reliable mounting system for fasteners.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member, a toggle member pivotally mounted to said strap member... wherein said toggle member once behind the wall is displaced towards said second position by said spring member
Data Source
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AI summary
An anchor assembly for walls comprises a toggle member and a strap member pivotally mounted together, and a locking member. In a first position thereof, the toggle member is aligned with the strap member for insertion through the wall, whereas in a second position thereof, the toggle member extends behind the wall at an angle relative to the strap member which extends from the toggle member through the hole in the wall. The locking member is adapted to be displaced along the strap member until it engages the wall and to be locked on the strap member to prevent the locking member from displacing away from the toggle member. Therefore, the locking member and the toggle member are connected by the strap member and imprison the wall by abutting respectively the visible and hidden sides thereof. A fastener introduced through the locking member and the wall threadably engages an opening defined in the toggle member.