Cover anchor clip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cover anchor clips are susceptible to damage during roller crushing, a process used to regulate air bubbles in foam bodies, as the squashing force from the roller can cause excessive deformation and damage to the clip.

Innovation Solution

The cover anchor clip design includes a plate-shaped base section with anchor portions and protrusions that allow for elastic deformation, preventing excessive deformation by creating a contact point between protrusions and upstanding portions when the clip is subjected to the squashing force, thus minimizing damage during roller crushing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cover anchor clip is disposed inside the foam body, then it can anchor the cover effectively, but it may be squashed and damaged by the roller crushing process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchoring functionVSAvoiddamage from roller crushing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces upstanding portions that act as cushioning elements before the harmful roller crushing occurs. These portions are positioned to make contact with protrusions on the extension portions during crushing, absorbing and distributing the squashing force to prevent damage to the anchor portion while maintaining the anchoring function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The upstanding portions serve as intermediary elements between the roller crushing force and the anchor portion. Instead of the crushing force acting directly on the fragile anchor portion, the upstanding portions mediate by making contact with protrusions first, transferring and distributing the force in a controlled manner.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the extension portions are made elastic to allow anchor claws to open, then the anchored member can be inserted, but excessive deformation may occur during roller crushing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion of anchored memberVSAvoiddeformation control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different structural characteristics in different parts of the extension portions. The protrusions are strategically positioned to provide localized contact points with the upstanding portions during crushing, allowing the extension portions to deform locally in a controlled manner while maintaining overall structural integrity and preventing excessive deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This design effectively suppresses damage to the cover anchor clip during roller crushing by limiting excessive deformation and maintaining the efficiency of the attachment operation of anchored members.

Implementation Method 1

either one of the extension portions undergoes elastic deformation such that the pair of anchor claws move away from each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3072736B1Cover anchor clip
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 NIFCO INC
  • EP3072736B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3072736B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3072736B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cover anchor clip (10) comprising a base section (14); an anchor portion (34) including a pair of extension portions (50) that stands up from the base section (14) so as to face each other, a pair of anchor claws (52) that is formed at respective leading ends of the pair of extension portions (50) and that projects out toward sides where the extension portions (50) mutually face each other, and a protrusion (54) that is formed at each leading end of the extension portions (50) and that projects out to the opposite side to the mutually facing sides of the extension portions (50); and upstanding portions (56) standing up from the base section (14), each of the upstanding portions (56) can make contact with either one of the protrusions (54) in the event that either one of the extension portions (50) is elastically deformed and the pair of anchor claws (52) move away from each other.