Wall Anchor With Cutting Wing and Strap Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wall anchors require additional tools and preparation, such as drilling pilot holes, to effectively anchor devices in substrates like plaster, wallboard, or concrete, limiting their usability and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A wall anchor design featuring a manually urgeable wing with a cutting element for substrate penetration, a rotatable strap assembly for gripping and pulling force application, and a movable cap for engagement, allowing for tool-free installation and adjustment to accommodate various wall thicknesses without pre-drilled holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wall anchors are used, then reliable anchoring is achieved, but additional tools and preparation (drilling pilot holes) are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drilling operation from the installation process by incorporating a cutting element directly onto the wing. This allows the anchor to create its own opening in the substrate without requiring pre-drilled pilot holes or separate drilling tools, thereby maintaining anchoring reliability while significantly improving installation convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of cutting/penetrating the substrate and anchoring into a single integrated wing component. The wing combines both the cutting element for substrate penetration and the anchoring geometry for securing the fixture, eliminating the need for separate drilling and anchoring operations
2Strength
If heavy duty hollow wall anchors are used, then anchoring strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the anchor into distinct functional components: a wing with cutting element for substrate penetration, a strap assembly for tension application, and a cap for securing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity and reducing manufacturing complexity compared to integrated heavy-duty designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic installation process where the wing is manually urged through the substrate, the strap assembly is pulled to tension the wing against the substrate, and the cap is secured to complete the anchoring. This dynamic, step-by-step approach achieves strong anchoring without requiring a complex pre-configured heavy-duty structure
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
Enables reliable anchoring of devices in various substrates without the need for power tools or pre-drilled holes, providing a convenient and versatile solution for securing fixtures in different materials.
Implementation Method 1
a cutting element attached to the wing at a leading side thereof to cut through substrate material upon the manual urging
Implementation Method 2
a strap assembly rotatably coupled to the wing and configured to be manually gripped and to have a pulling force exerted thereon to thereby urge the wing against the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A wall anchor is provided and includes a wing manually urgeable through a substrate, a cutting element attached to the wing at a leading side thereof to cut through substrate material upon the manual urging, a strap assembly rotatably coupled to the wing and configured to be manually gripped and to have a pulling force exerted thereon to thereby urge the wing against the substrate and a cap disposed to be movable along the strap assembly, respective engagements of a member with the wing and the cap being sufficient to draw the wing and the cap toward one another.