Bayonet Fastening Device with Rotating Wings for Tool-Free Sensor Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices for sensors in vehicles, particularly in safety-critical applications like airbag systems, face challenges in ensuring tool-free, safe, and secure assembly and interchangeability, especially in hard-to-reach places and over the sensor's service life, with current methods like screwing lacking ergonomic design and consistent force application.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device with rotating wings that allow targeted radial force application, featuring a curved and inclined contact surface for ergonomic grip and torque, and reinforced webs for axial direction force, ensuring secure mounting and easy tool-free assembly, even in hard-to-reach locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screwing is used to attach sensors, then secure attachment is achieved, but tool-free assembly and ergonomic operation are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidtool-free assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the screwing mechanical system with a bayonet locking system featuring a holding element with holding wings that can be inserted into wall openings and rotated to engage behind the wall, eliminating the need for screwdrivers or other tools while maintaining secure attachment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The holding element is designed to be rotatable relative to the carrier element, transitioning from an inserted position to a locked position where the holding wings engage behind the wall. This dynamic movement enables tool-free assembly while ensuring reliable fastening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If manual twisting of holding element is used, then assembly is simple, but consistent force application and secure mounting in hard-to-reach places are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual assemblyVSAvoidsecure mounting
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holding element features rotating wings with curved contact surfaces that provide ergonomic grip areas. These curved surfaces concentrate the installer's hand force onto specific contact points, enabling effective torque application even in hard-to-reach locations while maintaining consistent force application across different installers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds rotational movement as a new dimension to the assembly process. The holding element rotates from an inserted state to a locked state, transforming the assembly action from simple insertion to a two-stage process that ensures both ease of operation and reliable mounting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2564167B1Fastening device for fastening an assembly in an opening of a wall of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2016.12.07 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP2564167B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2564167B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP2564167B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The invention relates to a fastening device for fastening an assembly in an opening of a wall of a vehicle. The fastening device comprises a support element (2) to be placed on the wall (1) and a retaining element (3) having at least one retaining wing (3.1) for fastening the fastening device in the opening (1.1) of the wall, the retaining element (3) for fastening the fastening device being rotatably arranged relative to the support element (2), i.e. allowing a bayonet-type fastening. In order to be able to mount the assembly without tools, at least one rotary wing (3.2) is arranged on the retaining element (3) and has a contact surface (AF) in the direction of rotation for fastening the fastening device, said contact surface being inclined in the direction of rotation towards said direction of rotation and towards the wall by an angle (a). Generally, more effort is required to remove slanted surfaces from injection molds. Therefore, the rotary wing (3.2) is preferably formed by a wall (3.2.1) that is substantially parallel to the rotation axis and this wall (3.2.1) is reinforced by at least two webs (3.2.2) that are substantially perpendicular thereto but likewise parallel to the rotation axis (A). The webs (3.2.2) extend from the transition zone (3.2.3) between the retaining element and the rotary wing across at least one part of the surface of the wall (3.2.1) of the rotary wing and are beveled towards the contact surface (AF) such that on the whole a contact surface (AF) which is inclined at least in the direction of rotation towards the direction of rotation and towards the wall is obtained.