Compression Collar Fastener for Low-Force Thick Panel Attachment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art fasteners require high axial forces to attach to thick supports, making the attachment process difficult and often necessitating the use of tools, as the compression force increases with displacement, leading to uneven force application throughout the attachment process.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a frustoconical and elastically deformable compression collar with multiple bending regions of reduced thickness, which deforms preferentially under axial compression to maintain a substantially constant force over a large portion of its travel, ensuring easier attachment to supports of varying thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the compression collar is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the fastener can support thick supports, but the axial force required for attachment increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The compression collar is designed with non-uniform thickness: thicker at the apex and connection region for structural integrity, and thinner at the peripheral outer region for controlled deformation. This local variation in geometry allows the collar to maintain strength where needed while enabling easier attachment where deformation is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression collar transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic deformable structure during attachment. The thinner peripheral region allows the collar to deform progressively under axial load, adapting to the support thickness while maintaining overall structural integrity through the thicker apex and connection regions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the compression collar deforms significantly to attach to thick supports, then the fastener can accommodate varying thicknesses, but the attachment process becomes difficult without tools
Solution Approach 1:
By concentrating the deformation capability in the thinner peripheral outer region while maintaining thicker apex and connection regions, the design enables significant deformation for thickness adaptation without requiring excessive force that would necessitate tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar thickness parameter is varied strategically throughout the structure, creating a gradient from thinner peripheral regions to thicker apex and connection regions. This parameter variation enables the collar to deform progressively during attachment, accommodating different support thicknesses within a controlled force range.
3Reliability
If the compression force increases with displacement to ensure firm attachment, then the joint is secure, but the force application becomes uneven throughout the attachment process
Solution Approach 1:
The compression collar is designed to deform progressively during attachment, creating a dynamic response that moderates the force-displacement relationship. The thinner peripheral region deforms first, then progressively engages the thicker apex and connection regions, distributing the force application more evenly throughout the attachment process while ensuring secure attachment.
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 design reduces the axial forces required for attachment, especially when nearing the abutting position, by distributing the compression force uniformly across the travel, making the process more ergonomic and efficient.
Implementation Method 1
a frustoconical and elastically deformable compression collar that, when compressed, is intended to bear against the support
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener for attaching an element to a support includes a fastening base intended to pass through an opening provided in the support by ways of an axial compression force, a head, and a frustoconical and elastically deformable compression collar. The collar, when compressed, is intended to bear against the support. The collar is connected to the head in a connection region. The compression collar has a first bending region, and at least a second bending region, the first and the second bending regions being configured to deform in a predetermined manner when the fastener is subjected to the axial compression force.