Adjustable Fastening Structure With Bendable Connecting Webs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices require different distances and orientations of receiving recesses for various applications, but current progressive dies cannot efficiently produce such variations, leading to high production costs and limited component configurations.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device with material projections of varying thickness and curved connecting webs that can be bent to adjust the distance between receiving sections, allowing for flexible production of different configurations using the same manufacturing machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If progressive die tools are used to manufacture fastening devices with fixed receiving recess spacings, then manufacturing precision and efficiency are improved, but adaptability to different applications is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction precisionVSAvoidadaptability to different applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting webs are designed as flexible elements that can be bent to different degrees, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the same base component to achieve multiple spacing configurations by varying the bend degree of the connecting webs, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision (fixed die) and adaptability (variable spacing).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameter of the connecting webs by introducing variable bend degrees. This parameter change allows the distance between receiving sections to be adjusted without changing the base component design or requiring different progressive die tools, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while achieving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If progressive die tools are reconfigured to produce different receiving recess spacings, then adaptability to different applications is improved, but manufacturing cost and time are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent configuration varietyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single progressive die tool is designed to produce a universal base component that can serve multiple applications. The connecting webs' ability to be bent to different degrees allows one component design to fulfill multiple spacing requirements, eliminating the need for frequent die reconfiguration and reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening device is segmented into distinct functional parts: the receiving sections with fixed geometry (produced by progressive die) and the connecting webs with variable geometry (bent post-production). This segmentation allows the expensive progressive die to produce only the critical high-precision parts while the adaptable connecting webs are configured separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If tube drawing process is used to produce material projections, then manufacturing precision is improved, but flexibility in adjusting receiving section distance is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetube production qualityVSAvoiddistance adjustment flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting webs transition from a fixed state during tube drawing to a dynamic state after production. The bending operation transforms the rigid structure into an adjustable one, allowing distance flexibility to be introduced without compromising the precision of the tube-drawn receiving sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The high-precision receiving sections are produced first using tube drawing, and then the connecting webs are bent to the required configurations. This preliminary action sequence allows the precision-critical parts to be manufactured with high accuracy before any flexibility-modifying operations are performed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3783231B1Fixing device
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 A I M ALL IN METAL GMBH
  • EP3783231B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3783231B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3783231B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a fastening device (10) with at least two receiving sections (12a, 12b) which are spaced apart from each other and each have a material projection (14a, 14b) and a receiving recess (16a, 16b) enclosed by the wall of the material projection (14a, 14b) for receiving a fastening element, and a connecting structure (22) which connects the at least two receiving sections (12a, 12b) together.