Wall-mountable accessory
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Brittle materials like solid surface, glass, concrete, and ceramics are often avoided for bathroom accessories due to their brittleness, which makes them prone to cracking or breaking under stress, limiting their use in wall-mountable applications.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mountable accessory design that incorporates a solid body formed from a brittle material, utilizing a mounting assembly with a standoff and fastening pin to apply a stable compressive force, preventing fracture by sandwiching the solid body between the standoff and the fastening pin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If brittle materials (solid surface, glass, concrete, ceramics) are used for wall-mountable accessories, then aesthetic appeal and design versatility are improved, but structural reliability and resistance to breakage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory is divided into two functional segments: the brittle material body (solid surface, glass, concrete, or ceramic) that provides aesthetic appeal, and the metal mounting assembly that provides structural strength. This segmentation allows each material to perform its optimal function while overcoming the limitations of using brittle materials alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure combining brittle material (for aesthetics) with metal mounting components (for strength). The metal mounting assembly includes a mounting plate, mounting rod, and mounting bracket that work together to provide the structural integrity needed to support the brittle material body without breaking under stress.
2Adaptability or versatility
If brittle materials are used without proper support, then material diversity and aesthetic options are improved, but structural integrity under stress deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The metal mounting assembly acts as an intermediary between the wall and the brittle material body. The mounting plate attaches to the wall, the mounting rod connects to the brittle material, and the mounting bracket provides additional support. This intermediary metal structure transfers and distributes stresses away from the brittle material, preventing fracture while allowing diverse material choices.
3Reliability
If mounting force is applied to brittle materials, then secure attachment is achieved, but stress concentration causes cracking or breaking
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying mounting force directly at a single point on the brittle material (which would cause stress concentration), the mounting system distributes the force across multiple dimensions: the mounting plate distributes wall attachment forces, the mounting rod distributes vertical support forces, and the mounting bracket distributes lateral support forces. This multi-dimensional force distribution prevents stress concentration and cracking in the brittle material.
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 design effectively utilizes brittle materials in bathroom accessories by distributing stress evenly, preventing breakage and maintaining structural integrity, thus enhancing their durability and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
The mounting assembly may apply a stable compressive force onto the solid body to prevent fracture
Data Source
AI summary
A wall-mountable accessory such as one which is intended for hanging in a bathroom. The wall-mountable accessory may be a robe hook, a towel bar, a grab bar, a toilet paper holder, a ledge, or the like. The wall-mountable accessory may include a solid body that is at least partially formed from a brittle material. The solid body may have a hole that extends to an opening in its outer surface. The wall-mountable accessory may also include a mounting assembly for mounting the solid body to a wall. The mounting assembly may include a standoff configured to be coupled to the wall and a fastening pin that is coupled to the standoff and has a portion that nests within the hole in the solid body. The mounting assembly may apply a compressive force onto the solid body to prevent fracture.