Air Deflector Flexible Tabs for Tool-Free Nut Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

The removal of air screen nuts from motor vehicles is cumbersome and risky due to the use of plastic nuts that can be irreversibly damaged and require specific tools, posing a risk of injury to operators.

Innovation Solution

An air screen design with flexible tabs and appendages that allow easy manipulation of nuts from the rear face, eliminating the need for specific tools and reducing the risk of injury.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If plastic nuts are used in the air screen, then the cost and weight are reduced, but the threads can be irreversibly damaged when unscrewing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of nutVSAvoidthread integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses plastic nuts which are inexpensive and can be replaced after use. The nuts are designed as disposable components that can be easily replaced when their threads are damaged, resolving the contradiction between using cheap materials and maintaining reliability through replacement rather than repair

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If tabs are present in the drum to hold the nut, then the nut is securely retained, but the removal of the nut becomes delicate and tedious

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenut retentionVSAvoidnut removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary tool that engages with the tabs to facilitate nut removal. The tool acts as a mediator between the operator and the tabs, allowing the tabs to be moved sideways to release the nut without requiring delicate manual manipulation, thus resolving the contradiction between secure retention and ease of removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the operator positions himself under the vehicle to guide the tool to the tabs, then the tabs can be moved to release the nut, but the operator is exposed to risk of injury from falling nuts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetab manipulationVSAvoidrisk of injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the operational approach by allowing the operator to work from above the air screen rather than from underneath. The tool is designed to access the tabs from the top side, enabling the operator to safely manipulate the tabs and release nuts without positioning themselves in the dangerous zone where nuts could fall, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4347362B1Air deflector equipped with a device for releasing a nut present in a cavity

Publication Date: 2025.09.03 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS

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AI summary

The invention relates to an air deflector equipped with a device for releasing a nut present in a cavity. The air deflector (2) comprises at least one cavity (10) extending in a direction normal to a front face (6). The cavity (10) is delimited by a protrusion (12) on a rear face (8) of the air deflector (2), the bottom of the cavity (10) having a main opening (16) allowing the insertion of a threaded shank. The cavity comprises two flexible tabs (20) extending towards the bottom of the cavity (10), between a proximal end (22) connected to an internal face (24) of the cavity and a distal end (26) projecting into the cavity. Notably, each tab (20) has an appendage (30) extending through a secondary opening (32) of the cavity (10) so that an operator can move the distal end (26) of the tab (20) from outside the cavity (10).