Toggle Bolt Structure for Stable Cavity Panel Fastening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toggle bolts fail to provide a stable hold and support on panels with cavities, particularly when attaching to plasterboard, perforated bricks, or hollow blocks, as they lack sufficient tensile strength and adaptability to different screw diameters and threads.

Innovation Solution

A toggle bolt design featuring a plastic base body with a metal tension element of higher tensile strength, pressure elements arranged to support screws in a triangular or arched manner, and a screw hole that can accommodate screws of varying diameters, allowing for secure attachment by transmitting tensile forces as compressive forces and relieving stress on the anchor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a plastic base body is used for the toggle bolt, then ease of manufacture and cost are improved, but tensile strength and stability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidtensile strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The toggle bolt combines a plastic base body with a metal tension element to create a composite structure. The plastic base body provides ease of manufacture and cost benefits, while the metal tension element embedded within it provides the necessary tensile strength and stability for secure fastening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If a simple screw hole design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different screw diameters and threads is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure elements are designed to be movable relative to the base body, allowing them to adjust their position and orientation based on the screw diameter and thread type. This dynamic adaptation enables the same toggle bolt design to accommodate various screw specifications without requiring multiple specialized designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the traverse is placed transversely on the back of the panel, then stability of attachment is improved, but stress concentration on the hole edge occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of attachmentVSAvoidstress on hole edge
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure elements act as intermediary components between the traverse and the hole edge. They distribute the loads and forces from the transversely placed traverse across a larger area, reducing stress concentration on the hole edge while maintaining the stability benefits of the transverse placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enhances the stability of screw attachment by distributing forces effectively, providing a secure hold on panels with cavities and accommodating different screw sizes and threads, thus ensuring a robust and adaptable fastening solution.

Implementation Method 1

a tension element which has a higher tensile strength than the base body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Implementation Method 2

support a screw passed through the screw hole in particular in a triangular, arched or truss-like manner: the pressure element or elements are supported at support points in a Distance from the screw hole on the tension element and run at least in sections obliquely to the tension element and to the axis of the screw hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force transformation: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3571419B1Toggle bolt for cavity securing
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 FISCHERWERKE ARTUR FISCHER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3571419B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3571419B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3571419B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a toggle bolt (1) having two transversely arranged pressure elements (9), which engage with a screw thread of a screw (14) passing through a screw hole (6) and support the screw (14) in a triangular manner. A tension element (5) absorbs pressure forces of the pressure elements (9).