Container Fastening Tabs for Variable Panel Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening devices for containers on motor vehicles lack flexibility and compatibility with structural elements of varying material thicknesses, requiring multiple device designs and increasing production and storage costs.
Innovation Solution
A fastening device with interlocking latching tabs of varying distances from the contact surface, allowing engagement behind the structural element's through-opening, enabling easy installation and connection to different structural elements with diverse thicknesses, and an additional attachment device for enhanced security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fastening device is designed with fixed latching tab distances to ensure stable connection, then connection reliability is improved, but adaptability to different structural element thicknesses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latching tabs are designed with different distances from the contact surface, allowing the fastening device to adapt dynamically to different structural element thicknesses. The first latching tab engages with thinner elements while the second latching tab engages with thicker elements, providing dynamic adaptability without sacrificing connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the latching tabs by providing at least two tabs with different distances from the contact surface. This parameter variation enables the fastening device to accommodate different through-opening depths while maintaining stable engagement and connection reliability across various structural element thicknesses.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fastening device designs are created to accommodate different structural element thicknesses, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and production costs worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device achieves universality by incorporating multiple latching tabs with different distances from the contact surface into a single device design. This multi-functional configuration allows one fastening device to serve multiple purposes across different structural element thicknesses, eliminating the need for multiple specialized device designs and reducing production complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the latching function by providing at least two latching tabs with different engagement distances. This segmentation allows each tab to handle specific thickness ranges, and the combination provides comprehensive adaptability without requiring entirely different device designs for each application scenario.
3Ease of operation
If latching tabs are positioned closer to the contact surface for easier installation, then ease of operation is improved, but connection stability for thicker structural elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention provides a dynamic solution by offering multiple latching tabs at different distances from the contact surface. For thinner structural elements, the closer latching tab provides easy installation, while for thicker elements, the farther latching tab ensures adequate engagement depth and connection stability, adapting to each scenario optimally.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastening device, configured for interlocking attachment in a through-opening of a structural element, wherein the fastening device comprises a contact surface for contact on a first side of the structural element delimiting the through-opening as well as at least one first latching tab and at least one second latching tab, wherein the latching tabs each have at least one latching projection, wherein the latching projections are configured to engage behind the through-opening on a second side of the structural element delimiting the through-opening, wherein the distance of the latching projection of the second latching tab from the contact surface is greater than the corresponding distance in the case of the first latching tab. The fastening device can be, in particular, part of a container, for example of a coolant expansion tank, of a motor vehicle and the structural element part of a body of the motor vehicle.