Automotive Clip Anchor With Stopper Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clips used to attach automotive electric components to body panels face issues with secure retention under extraction loads, as engagement strips can be disengaged from the insertion hole, leading to unexpected removal of the component.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating flexible engagement strips and blocks in the clip's anchor design, where the blocks prevent the strips from folding back excessively, ensuring they remain engaged with the hole's periphery and resist extraction forces, maintaining retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If engagement strips are made flexible to enable easy insertion, then insertion load is reduced, but extraction load resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor is segmented into multiple functional components: engagement strips for insertion, blocks for load distribution, and stopper surfaces for limiting deformation. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, enabling flexible insertion while maintaining extraction resistance through the block-stopper mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper surfaces are pre-configured on the blocks to limit the folding-back distance of engagement strips before insertion is complete. This preliminary action prevents excessive deformation that would lead to disengagement, ensuring extraction load resistance is maintained from the outset.
2Ease of operation
If engagement strips are allowed to fold back freely, then insertion ease is improved, but retention force deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blocks act as intermediary elements between the engagement strips and the insertion hole periphery. They provide stopper surfaces that mediate the folding-back motion of engagement strips, allowing controlled deformation during insertion while preventing excessive folding that would compromise retention force.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pairs of engagement strips are used to increase versatility, then adaptability to different thicknesses is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocks serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, distribute extraction loads, and incorporate stopper surfaces to control engagement strip deformation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, maintaining versatility across different thicknesses while limiting complexity growth.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The clip effectively prevents disengagement of the anchor from the panel, providing a desired retention force capable of resisting extraction loads, ensuring secure attachment and easy insertion with reduced operational force.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the at least one pair of flexible engagement strips is configured to engage a periphery of the attaching hole when the pillar is inserted into the attaching hole
Implementation Method 2
Each of the at least one pair of blocks has a stopper surface that is configured to prevent each of the at least one pair of engagement strips from being folded back when an extraction load is applied
Data Source
AI summary
A clip may include a base to which an attaching member is connected, and an anchor configured to be attached to a plate-shaped subject member and having a pillar, at least one pair of flexible engagement strips and at least one pair of blocks. The pillar is configured to be inserted into an attaching hole formed in the subject member. Each of the at least one pair of engagement strips is configured to engage a periphery of the attaching hole when the pillar is inserted into the attaching hole. Each of the at least one pair of blocks has a stopper surface that is configured to prevent each of the at least one pair of engagement strips from being folded back when an extraction load is applied to the anchor in a condition in which the anchor is attached to the subject member.