Vehicle Clip Cap Protects Pillars From Misalignment Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle clips are prone to damage when the anchor portion is not aligned with the insertion hole, leading to excessive spreading of pillars and potential breakage, which prevents repeated use.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a cap portion at the distal end of one pillar to cover the slot, preventing the insertion hole periphery from entering and thus protecting the pillars from excessive stress and breakage, while allowing flexible strips to engage and disengage for secure attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the anchor portion is pressed against the insertion hole without alignment, then the distal end contacts the periphery of the insertion hole, but the pillars are excessively spread and broken
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a groove at the distal end of the anchor portion that receives the periphery of the insertion hole. This groove acts as a cushioning structure that absorbs the excessive spreading force when misalignment occurs during insertion, preventing the pillars from being excessively spread and broken while still allowing proper insertion when aligned.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the slot continuously extends between distal and proximal ends, then the pillars can flex inward for insertion, but the periphery of the insertion hole enters the slot causing pillar breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the anchor portion into distinct functional zones: the groove segment at the distal end that receives the insertion hole periphery, and the slot segment that extends from the proximal end to but not beyond the groove. This segmentation isolates the pillars from direct contact with the insertion hole periphery, allowing the slot to provide necessary flexibility for insertion while the groove protects against excessive spreading that would cause breakage.
3Reliability
If the anchor portion is designed for secure retention, then the flexible strips engage the periphery of the insertion hole, but the clip cannot be removed for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the flexible strips to be elastically deformable. During normal operation, the flexible strips engage the periphery of the insertion hole to provide secure retention. During removal, when extraction force greater than the retention force is applied, the flexible strips can be elastically deformed to disengage from the periphery, allowing the anchor portion to be removed for maintenance while maintaining reliable retention during use.
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 cap portion effectively prevents pillar damage during misalignment, enabling secure attachment and repeated use without wear or abrasion of flexible strips, ensuring the clip remains functional.
Implementation Method 1
flexible strips respectively connected to the pillars and configured to engage a periphery of the insertion hole
Implementation Method 2
a cap portion positioned on the distal end of the anchor portion... configured to cover a distal end of the slot
Data Source
AI summary
A clip may include an anchor portion configured to be inserted into an insertion hole formed in a subject member. The anchor portion has at least a pair of pillars separated via a slot that continuously extends between distal and proximal ends of the anchor portion, flexible strips respectively connected to the pillars and configured to engage a periphery of the insertion hole, and a cap portion positioned on the distal end of the anchor portion. The pillars are configured to be flexed about proximal ends thereof in a direction in which the pillars can intersect with each other. The cap portion is formed in a distal end of one of the pillars and is configured to cover a distal end of the slot.