U-Shaped Support Profile With Adjustable Arms for Hidden Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing support structures for shelves, seats, and racks are difficult to manufacture and install, often requiring complex components and specialized tools, and lack modular flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A U-shaped support profile with side walls and adjustable support arms that can be easily attached to a wall without screws or welding, allowing for modular construction and sleek, hidden suspension, using apertures and projections for secure mounting and adjustable angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional metal brackets with multiple welded profiles are used, then structural strength is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is divided into separate functional elements: a U-shaped support profile that attaches to the wall and support arms that attach to the profile. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing of each component while maintaining overall structural strength through the modular assembly design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support arms are designed to fit within the U-shaped support profile, with the arms nesting inside the profile's open structure. This nested configuration reduces the overall footprint, simplifies assembly, and maintains strength through the interlocking geometry of the nested components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If traditional brackets requiring drilling and welding are used, then secure mounting is achieved, but installation time and skill requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure mountingVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support profile and arms incorporate self-aligning features with pre-defined aperture positions and complementary projection geometries. During installation, the components guide themselves into proper alignment through their interlocking shapes, eliminating the need for precise measurement and alignment by the installer, thus reducing installation time while maintaining secure mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable support arms are implemented, then adaptability for different applications is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidcomponent complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support arms are designed with universal features that allow them to perform multiple functions: they can be positioned at different heights along the support profile, adjusted to various angles, and used with different planar objects. The same basic arm design with projection features provides adaptability across multiple applications without requiring specialized components for each use case.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3005904B1Supporting structure with supporting profile and support arms

Publication Date: 2018.07.04 HOUTHOOFD DENORME

Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3~4

AI summary

A modular support structure (1), comprising a U-shaped support profile (2) having pairs of second apertures (7) for receiving projections (12) of a U-shaped support arm (10), which can be inserted between the opposite side walls (4a, 4b) of the support profile (2), and can rest on the bottom wall (4b). A method for mounting a support structure (1) to a wall. A seat, a rack, and a shelf comprising such support structure (1).