Adhesive Cage Nut Fastening for One-Sided Component Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening elements for components that are only accessible from one side face mechanical and structural limitations, particularly causing damage to brittle or thin components and requiring complex, costly installations that necessitate two-sided accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A cage nut design featuring a cage element with a receiving space for a connecting element, where the connecting element is held in a form-fitting, floating manner, allowing for easy installation and removal through an adapted installation opening, and adhesive attachment to the component surface, reducing mechanical stress and simplifying the installation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a collar is deformed or pressed into the component opening to create a non-positive connection, then mechanical fastening is achieved, but high mechanical loads are imposed on the component causing damage to brittle or thin components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressing/deforming system with a chemical adhesive bonding system. Instead of deforming a collar mechanically into the component opening, the invention uses adhesive applied to the inner circumferential surface of the opening to bond the connecting element, thereby eliminating the harmful mechanical loads that cause damage to brittle or thin components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces adhesive as an intermediary substance between the component opening and the connecting element. This adhesive layer mediates the connection, transferring loads chemically rather than through direct mechanical contact and deformation, thus protecting the component from damage while achieving secure fastening
2Reliability
If fastening elements are installed using mechanical pressing and adhesive bonding, then secure attachment is achieved, but two-sided accessibility is required increasing installation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adhesive application step from the mechanical pressing process. By applying adhesive only to the inner circumferential surface of the component opening and then inserting the connecting element, the invention eliminates the need for two-sided accessibility while maintaining secure attachment through the combination of adhesive bonding and form-fitting connection
3Reliability
If multiple installation steps including mechanical pressing and gluing are used, then reliable fastening is achieved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the adhesive application and connecting element insertion into a single integrated operation. The adhesive is applied to the opening surface, and the connecting element is inserted directly into the adhesive-containing opening, combining what were previously separate steps into one streamlined process that reduces installation time while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by applying the adhesive to the component opening before inserting the connecting element. This pre-application of adhesive ensures that the bonding process is already initiated when the connecting element is inserted, eliminating the need for separate gluing and pressing steps and thereby reducing overall installation time
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 cage nut design enables secure, aesthetically pleasing, and cost-effective fastening on components from a single side, minimizing mechanical stress and simplifying the installation process while maintaining the ability to replace the connecting element without tools, thus overcoming the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
The first end face at least partially forms an adhesive surface for fastening the cage element to a component
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7a~7c
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fastening element consisting of a cage element (10) with a nut arranged therein, said nut being held in the cage element via a fastening flange. The cage element (10) has an axially displaceable wall element (30) which shields the receiving space of the cage element against the penetration of adhesive (K) during the mounting of the fastening element to a component surface.