Fastening Clip Insert Mechanism for High Retention, Easy Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clips and systems for fastening elements suffer from low retention force and require significant assembly efforts, with limited tolerance compensation.
Innovation Solution
A clip design featuring a first body with a hollow shaft and retaining elements, and a second body or insert that holds the retaining elements in a retracted position during insertion, allowing for easier assembly and increased retention force by decoupling the force required for insertion from the spring tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the spring tension of the retaining element is increased to improve retention force, then the retention force is improved, but the force necessary to push in the shaft during assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is divided into a first body (shaft with retaining element) and a second body (insert with contact surface). The insert acts as a separate component that decouples the retention function from the insertion function, allowing the spring tension to be optimized for retention without affecting assembly force requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert serves as an intermediary element between the retaining element and the external environment. During assembly, the insert's contact surface receives the insertion force and transmits it to move the retaining element, protecting the spring from direct loading during assembly while maintaining high retention force.
2Reliability
If the retaining element is designed to engage firmly with the second element to improve reliability, then the retention force is improved, but the assembly process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is pre-positioned in the first body at a first position where its contact surface is aligned to receive insertion force. This preliminary arrangement ensures that during assembly, the force is automatically applied to move the retaining element into its engaged position, making the assembly process easier while ensuring reliable engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert mediates between the insertion force and the retaining element, translating the assembly force into controlled movement of the retaining element. This ensures that the retaining element engages firmly and reliably with the second element while the insert absorbs the mechanical stress of the assembly process.
3Device complexity
If the clip design is simplified to reduce device complexity, then manufacturing is easier, but tolerance compensation capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The insert (second body) is nested inside the first body (shaft), with the contact surface of the insert positioned to interact with the retaining element. This nested configuration allows the insert to move independently along the longitudinal axis, providing tolerance compensation for variations in the second element's hole position while maintaining a compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is designed to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. The insert can move between a first position (during assembly) and a second position (after assembly), absorbing dimensional variations without affecting the retention function.
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 provides higher retention force and reduces assembly efforts by using an insert to stabilize the retaining elements, enhancing the clip's ability to securely fasten elements while compensating for manufacturing tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
the element is bend backwards at the tip of the first body forming a bended section (in the area of the U-Quersteg 8d), the bended section acting as a spring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
Figure 6a~6d
AI summary
Clip for fastening a first element to a second element, the clip having a first body, the first body comprising • a head and a tip, • a hollow shaft that extends from the head to the tip along a longitudinal axis, • at least one retaining element, whereby the retaining element has ∘ a normal position, in which a tip of the retaining element protrudes over a side-surface of the shaft by a first amount and ∘ a retracted position, in which the tip of the retaining element does not protrude over the side-surface of the shaft and is arranged inside the shaft or does protrude over the side-surface of the shaft, but by a second amount that is smaller than the first amount, ∘ whereby the tip is moved along a retraction direction as the retaining element is moved from the normal position to the retracted position, • a spring, whereby moving the retaining element from the normal position to the retracted position loads the spring such that in the retracted position the retaining element is pretensioned to move back into the direction of the normal position, characterized by a second body that as an insert is arranged inside the first body and can be moved inside the first body along the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position, whereby the insert has a contact surface and the retaining element has a counter-surface, whereby the contact surface faces into the retraction direction, whereby the contact surface is in contact with the counter-surface when the insert is in the first position and the retaining element is in the retracted position.