Clip Biasing Body for Instrument Panel Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clips for attaching a center cluster to an instrument panel face reduced elasticity due to the heat creep phenomenon in synthetic resin, leading to a decrease in connecting force over time, and require complex manufacturing processes for forming engagement slots, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A clip with a clamping portion and an engagement portion featuring biasing bodies that elastically contact the rib's outer surface closer to the distal end, maintaining engagement force even when elasticity is reduced and allowing for elongated open-ended engagement slots, reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the engagement portion is continuously flexed to attach the center cluster to the instrument panel, then the clip can securely hold the center cluster, but the elasticity of the engagement portion is reduced due to heat creep phenomenon over time, leading to reduced connecting force
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement portion is divided into two functional components: the main engagement portion (engagement legs) that provides initial securing force, and the biasing bodies (elastic strips) that provide sustained reactive force. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the biasing bodies compensating for the engagement portion's elasticity loss over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces biasing bodies with different elastic properties positioned to contact the rib at locations spaced from the engagement slot. These biasing bodies undergo elastic deformation under extraction loads, generating reactive forces that change over time to compensate for the engagement portion's heat creep. The system transitions from relying solely on the engagement portion's elasticity to a dual-mechanism system where biasing bodies provide time-varying compensatory forces.
2Reliability
If elastic strips are formed in the engagement portion to provide reactive force, then the connecting force can be maintained over time, but the engagement slot must be formed as a closed ended slot requiring slide dies, increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The rib structure is segmented into functional zones: the engagement slot area for clamping portion engagement, and the biasing body contact area closer to the distal end. This spatial segmentation allows the engagement slot to be a simple open-ended slot formed by standard injection molding, while the biasing bodies contact a separate region of the rib, eliminating the need for complex closed-ended slots and slide dies.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of forming a complex closed-ended engagement slot that requires slide dies, the patent uses a simpler open-ended engagement slot combined with separately formed biasing bodies that contact the rib. This copying approach replaces a single complex feature with multiple simpler features that achieve the same functional result with reduced manufacturing complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the biasing body contacts the rib closer to the distal end than the engagement slot, then the engagement slot can be formed as an elongated open ended slot simplifying manufacturing, but the biasing body must be positioned precisely to contact the outer surface of the rib
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing bodies are pre-formed as integral parts of the engagement portion during injection molding, with their positions and orientations predetermined in the mold design. The mold includes dedicated cavities or surfaces that ensure the biasing bodies contact the rib at the correct location (closer to the distal end than the engagement slot) without requiring additional positioning steps or complex assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib is designed with local quality variations: the region closer to the distal end has specific geometric features (such as increased surface area or specific contour) that facilitate reliable contact with the biasing bodies. This local differentiation ensures that the biasing bodies contact the rib at the intended location with adequate tolerance, reducing the overall positioning precision requirements while maintaining effective force transmission.
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 maintains secure attachment to the instrument panel even after prolonged use by utilizing reactive forces from biasing bodies, preventing detachment and simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for slide dies in injection molding.
Implementation Method 1
The engagement portion has a pair of biasing bodies that are formed in inner surfaces of the engagement portion and are configured to elastically contact an outer surface of the rib when the engagement portion is deformed inwardly caused by an extraction load applied to the clip body
Implementation Method 2
the clip body can be introduced into the attaching hole while the engagement portion is elastically flexed
Implementation Method 3
when the clip body can be sufficiently inserted into the attaching hole, the engagement portion elastically engages the attaching hole, so as to be securely held in the attaching hole
Data Source
AI summary
A clip may have a clip body configured to be attached to a rib formed in an attaching article and configured to be inserted into an attaching hole formed in an object panel. The clip body includes a clamping portion configured to be coupled to the rib via an engagement slot formed in the rib, and an engagement portion elastically engageable with the attaching hole. The engagement portion has a biasing body that is configured to elastically contact an outer surface of the rib when the engagement portion is deformed inwardly caused by an extraction load applied to the clip body. The biasing body is positioned so as to contact the outer surface of the rib in a position closer to a distal end of the rib than the engagement slot.