Battery Terminal Fastening Apparatus with Integrated Hinge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening apparatuses for battery terminal cases in vehicles are bulky due to protruding hinges, making it difficult to open the upper cover uniformly and increasing the overall volume, which restricts component arrangement in the engine room and raises mold development costs.

Innovation Solution

A fastening apparatus with hinge protrusions and holes on opposing sides of the side body and upper cover, along with an angle adjusting rib and locking device, allows for uniform load distribution and easy adjustment of the upper cover's opening angle, reducing the overall volume and eliminating the need for additional reinforcing components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a protruding hinge is provided between the upper cover and main body, then the hinge can enable opening and closing of the upper cover, but the overall volume of the fastening apparatus increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening and closing of upper coverVSAvoidoverall volume of fastening apparatus

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge structure is merged with the side body and upper cover by forming hinge protrusions and hinge holes directly on these components. This integration eliminates the need for separate protruding hinge components, achieving the opening/closing function while reducing overall volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge protrusions are nested within the housing structure formed by the side body and upper cover. The hinge holes receive the hinge protrusions internally, allowing the hinge mechanism to be contained within the overall structure rather than protruding outward, thus reducing volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If a protruding hinge is provided between the upper cover and main body, then the hinge can enable opening and closing of the upper cover, but uniform load distribution during opening is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening of upper coverVSAvoidload distribution during opening

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge connection is segmented into multiple hinge protrusions and hinge holes distributed on opposing sides of the side body and upper cover. This segmentation allows load to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated at a single protruding hinge, achieving uniform load distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge protrusions and holes are positioned on opposing sides of the components, creating a balanced asymmetric distribution that facilitates uniform load application during opening and closing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Ease of operation

If a protruding hinge is provided between the upper cover and main body, then the hinge can enable opening and closing of the upper cover, but additional components are required to reinforce hinge stiffness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening and closing of upper coverVSAvoidnumber of additional components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge reinforcement function is merged into the existing side body and upper cover structures. The hinge protrusions and holes are formed directly on these components, eliminating the need for separate reinforcing components and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The side body and upper cover serve multiple functions: they form the housing structure, provide mounting surfaces for the hinge protrusions and holes, and inherently reinforce the hinge connection through their structural design, eliminating the need for dedicated reinforcing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If the hinge protrudes outwardly, then the hinge can enable opening and closing of the upper cover, but mold development cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening and closing of upper coverVSAvoidmold development cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge structure is merged with the side body and upper cover, allowing the hinge protrusions and holes to be formed as integral features during the molding process. This eliminates the need for separate mold components for the hinge, reducing mold development cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge mechanism is nested within the housing structure, allowing all hinge features to be formed within the existing mold cavity for the side body and upper cover. This integrated molding approach reduces the number of separate mold developments required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9966589B2Fastening apparatus for battery terminal case

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A fastening apparatus for a battery terminal case includes a main body having open upper and side portions configured to hold a battery terminal therein, a side body coupled to the open side portion of the main body, and an upper cover, hingedly coupled to the side body, provided at the open upper portion of the main body. Hinge protrusions are formed on opposing sides of one of the side body and the upper cover. Hinge holes are formed on opposing sides of the other one of the side body and the upper cover. The hinge holes are configured to receive the hinge protrusions therein.