Wall Flange Fastening Assembly for Secure One-Sided Tap Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for securing a wall-mounted flange to connect a faucet or water tap through a wall often lead to loosening or damage due to differing coefficients of expansion between the wall and the assembly, or require additional screw holes that can damage the wall, especially on irregular surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A fastening assembly kit featuring a hollow cylindrical or tapered fastener with threaded surfaces and extending limbs that secures the wall-mounted flange without additional screw holes, allowing for one-sided mounting and accommodating non-flat walls by using ribs and wedges for axial and rotational stability, and optionally incorporating a stopping collar and adhesive recesses for enhanced security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the assembly is secured by clamping it between both sides of the wall, then the assembly is held firmly in place, but the assembly may loosen or damage the wall over time due to different coefficients of expansion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefirmness of assemblyVSAvoidlong-term stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the fastening operation from one side of the wall by using a expansion anchor that is inserted through the wall opening. The anchor expands within the wall material itself, extracting the need for a second fastening point on the opposite side, thereby eliminating the problem of differential expansion between wall sides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The expansion anchor acts as an intermediary element that transfers the loading from the flange into the wall structure. Instead of directly clamping the flange between two wall surfaces, the anchor mediates by expanding within the wall material to create a secure mechanical interlock, distributing stresses more evenly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If screws are used to fix the flange at one side of the wall, then additional security is provided, but the wall is damaged through additional screw holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring strengthVSAvoidwall damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of multiple fastening elements into a single expansion anchor. Instead of using separate screws that would require multiple holes, the anchor integrates the fastening function into one wall opening, merging what would otherwise be multiple damaging interventions into a single minimal intrusion point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The expansion anchor utilizes a flexible or expandable structure that can deform to match the wall opening geometry. This flexible mechanism allows the anchor to adapt to irregular wall surfaces and create a secure fit without requiring precise pre-drilled holes or additional fastening points, thereby minimizing wall damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the wall is partly carved out to position the wall mounted flange, then the flange can be properly positioned, but the wall structure is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflange positioningVSAvoidwall structure integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The expansion anchor is inserted into the wall opening before the flange is fully secured. This preliminary placement allows the anchor to expand and lock within the wall structure first, creating a secure foundation that supports the flange without requiring extensive carving or structural modification of the wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3502363B1Assembly for fastening a wall mounted flange for a water tap on a wall
Publication Date: 2021.11.17 ALTUS BVBA
  • EP3502363B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3502363B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3502363B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a fastener (100) for fastening a wall mounted flange (300) in a wall bored hole, the fastener (100) comprising a treaded, that is a profiled housing, the housing comprising a hollow cylindrical body comprising apertures (101, 201) at both ends of its longitudinal direction, a treaded outer surface (102), a treaded inner surface (202) arranged for receiving a pipe (601) attached to the wall mounted flange (300), and wherein the treaded outer surface (102) is adapted to fasten to an inner surface of the wall bored hole when the fastener (100) is inserted in the wall bored hole, and the treaded inner surface (202) is adapted to fasten to the treaded housing (301) of the pipe (601) of the wall mounted flange (300) when the pipe (601) is inserted in the fastener (100). The invention furthermore relates to a fastening assembly kit comprising the fastener (100) and the flange (300) and a method for fastening the flange (300) in the fastener (100).