Clip Elastic Engagement Deformable Portion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clips require high inserting effort due to the elastic engagement piece's connection to the head portion, making it difficult to deform and securely attach to mounting holes, leading to poor workability and instability when subjected to external forces.
Innovation Solution
A clip design featuring a flange with a pillar portion, a rib, and an elastic engagement piece with a deformable portion that can easily deform upon insertion, allowing for easy insertion and strong fixation with minimal effort, and a swelling portion for enhanced engagement with the mounting hole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the elastic engagement piece is connected to the lower stage pressing piece at the upper end portion, then the elastic engagement piece can be held in position, but the elastic engagement piece becomes difficult to deform, requiring strong inserting effort and reducing workability
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic engagement piece is divided into two functional segments: a rigid portion connected to the pressing piece that provides positional stability, and a deformable portion disconnected from both the pressing piece and tip portion that enables easy deformation during insertion. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the elastic engagement piece are given different mechanical properties: the rigid portion near the connection point maintains structural stability and positional accuracy, while the deformable portion at the free end is designed to be flexible and easily deformable. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between stability and ease of deformation.
2Ease of operation
If the elastic engagement piece is made free at the lower end portion, then the elastic engagement piece becomes easier to deform, but the clip cannot be held sufficiently when external force is applied, causing the clip to move from its given position
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic engagement piece is segmented into a rigid portion connected to the pressing piece for stable positioning and a deformable portion disconnected from both ends for easy deformation. This segmentation ensures that the rigid portion maintains positional stability while the deformable portion provides the necessary flexibility during insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic engagement piece exhibits local quality differentiation where the rigid portion provides structural support and positional stability, while the deformable portion allows easy deformation. This localized variation in mechanical properties enables the piece to simultaneously maintain stability and deformability in different regions.
3Strength
If the elastic engagement piece is connected to the head portion, then the clip structure is more stable, but the inserting effort increases significantly in the final inserting stage
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic engagement piece is segmented into rigid and deformable portions, allowing the rigid portion to maintain structural strength while the deformable portion reduces insertion resistance. This segmentation enables the clip to be both strong and easy to install.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection point in the head portion is designed with local quality differentiation: the rigid portion maintains structural integrity and strength, while the deformable portion locally reduces resistance to deformation. This localized design allows the clip to maintain overall strength while significantly reducing the effort required for insertion.
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 can be inserted and fixed with reduced effort, providing strong retention and resistance to external forces, ensuring stable positioning without deformation, even when subjected to radial forces or attempts to pull out.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable portion that is extended from the rigid portion and that is disconnected from the flange and the tip portion
Implementation Method 2
the elastic engagement piece which deforms when inserted into the mounting hole
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clip including: a flange and a leg. The leg includes: a pillar portion that vertically extends from the flange; a tip portion provided at a distal end in an axial direction; a rib that outwardly extends from the pillar portion to be connected to the flange and the tip portion; and an elastic engagement piece that extends from a distal end of the rib in a circumferential direction. The elastic engagement piece includes: a rigid portion that is connected to the rib and that is connected to the flange and the tip portion; and a deformable portion that is extended from the rigid portion and that is disconnected from the flange and the tip portion.