Channel Element Attachment With Collar Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment assemblies lack a secure locking mechanism to retain male fastening elements on elongate channel elements, leading to potential misalignment and instability in structural connections.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an upstanding collar portion around apertures on the channel element's bottom and a circular groove on the male fastening element's head to create a locking feature, ensuring the head and bottom are mutually locked in position, with optional integration of a nut for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple aperture is used in the channel element bottom for passing the shank, then the manufacturing is simple, but the male fastening element cannot be retained at a predetermined position leading to misalignment and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is segmented into two functional portions: a first aperture portion for inserting the head and a second aperture portion for receiving the shank. This segmentation allows the aperture to provide both easy insertion and secure retention, resolving the contradiction between simple manufacturing and reliable position retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture transitions from a simple two-dimensional hole to a three-dimensional structured opening with varying diameters along its length. The first aperture portion has a larger diameter for head insertion, while the second aperture portion has a smaller diameter for shank retention, creating a dimensional solution that prevents fastening element displacement without excessive complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If no locking mechanism is provided, then the device complexity is low, but the connection between channel elements is unstable and prone to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged into the aperture structure itself rather than being a separate component. The collar portion surrounding the second aperture portion integrates the locking mechanism directly into the channel element bottom, providing stable connection without adding significant device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture structure with its collar portion provides self-locking functionality. When the shank is inserted through the apertures, the collar portion automatically retains the shank at the predetermined position without requiring additional active locking components, thus achieving stability with minimal added complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the aperture has a uniform diameter, then the manufacturing is simple, but the head cannot be properly inserted and retained
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is divided into two segments with different diameters: the first aperture portion with larger diameter for head insertion and the second aperture portion with smaller diameter for shank retention. This segmentation enables both easy operation (head insertion and secure retention) and relatively simple manufacturing compared to more complex locking mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment assembly includes an elongate channel element and a male fastening element including a shank to fasten the channel element to another structural element. The elongate channel element has a substantially flat bottom, sidewalls extending from the bottom substantially at right angles and an upper side opposite the bottom. The upper side of the channel element includes flanges which extend from the respective sidewalls towards each other and delimit between them a longitudinal slot extending over the length of the channel element. The bottom has an aperture formed in it for passing through the shank of the male fastening element. The male fastening element has a head that has a circular groove in the side where the shank is located. The groove in the head is engageable with a collar surrounding the aperture so as to mutually lock the head and the bottom in position at the aperture.