Bumper Skin Locking Element With Pin And Slot Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for fixing a bumper skin on a fender are impractical due to accessibility issues during assembly and complicated disassembly, and they require increasing the thickness of the bumper skin, making manufacturing difficult.
Innovation Solution
A locking element with a pin and slot system, where the pin has a body and head, and the slot has a diameter greater than the head, allowing easy insertion and withdrawal, and the locking element has a guide zone with snap-fastening means to prevent slipping, facilitating translation along an axis and simplifying assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If screwing or snap-fastening means are used to fix the bumper skin on the fender, then the parts can be joined together, but the assembly and disassembly become complicated and difficult to access during vehicle assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated hole is segmented into two distinct zones: a reception zone with a first diameter for receiving the fixing element, and a guide zone with a second diameter for guiding translation movement. This segmentation allows the fixing element to be easily inserted into the reception zone and then guided along the axis during assembly, simplifying the operation while maintaining secure joining.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element acts as an intermediary component between the bumper skin and the fender. It includes a fixing element that inserts into the elongated hole of the bumper skin and engages with the pin of the fender, providing a simple yet effective joining mechanism that is easy to assemble and disassemble.
2Strength
If the thickness of the bumper skin is increased in the slot area to accommodate the locking element, then the locking element can be secured, but the manufacturing becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing element is nested within the elongated hole, with the reception zone providing initial acceptance and the guide zone providing directional guidance. This nested arrangement allows the locking element to be securely attached to the bumper skin without requiring additional thickness in the bumper skin itself, as the elongated hole accommodates the fixing element's movement path.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the thickness (z-dimension) of the bumper skin to accommodate the locking element, the solution transitions to utilizing the lateral dimensions (x-y plane) by creating an elongated hole with different diameters along its length. This dimensional shift allows the locking element to be secured without modifying the bumper skin's thickness, maintaining manufacturing ease.
3Shape
If docking elements are added between the wing and bumper skin to meet clearance and flush requirements, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but the accessibility of fastening means is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is extracted from the traditional screwing or snap-fastening means located at the interface between the bumper skin and fender. Instead, the locking element with its fixing element and elongated hole system is positioned such that it can be operated from the interior side of the bumper skin, making the fastening means accessible during assembly without interfering with the aesthetic docking elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of accessing the fastening means from the exterior side where docking elements would block access, the solution inverts the approach by allowing insertion and operation of the locking element from the interior side of the bumper skin. This reversal of the access direction resolves the conflict between aesthetic appearance and assembly accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The assembly (2) has a fixing element (22) engaged with an elongated hole (24) so as to form a guiding unit that translationally guides bumper skin (4) with respect to a locking element (8) along an axis. The hole has receiving and guiding areas (36) to respectively receive and guide the fixing element to move in translation along the axis relative to a part and the locking element. The areas are separated from each other by a ratchet unit. The skin is sandwiched between the locking element and the part. The locking element moves in translation between locking and unlocking positions.