Deformable Fastener Head for Shock Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fasteners, particularly nails, face challenges when driven into substrates with varying hardness and density, leading to excessive drive energy that can cause structural damage to the fastener, tool, or substrate, especially when encountering hard surfaces or materials with natural inconsistencies.

Innovation Solution

A nail design featuring a deformable portion on the head that absorbs excess energy by deforming when driven, allowing for energy dissipation without causing structural damage, using a conventional fastener drive tool, with the deformable feature being softer than the shank and potentially heat-treated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional fastener is driven into hard substrates or materials with natural inconsistencies, then the fastener can be driven into the substrate, but excessive drive energy causes structural damage to the fastener, tool, or substrate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastener reliabilityVSAvoidexcessive drive energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a deformable feature in the fastener head that is designed to deform and absorb excess drive energy before this energy can cause damage to the fastener, tool, or substrate. This cushioning mechanism is built into the fastener structure itself, allowing it to withstand variations in substrate hardness and density without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes material parameter changes by creating a deformable feature with different mechanical properties (softer, more compliant) compared to the rest of the fastener. This parameter differentiation allows the fastener to absorb shock through controlled deformation while maintaining the strength needed for driving and holding functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the depth of drive is precisely adjusted to prevent excessive shock on hard surfaces, then shock damage is reduced, but precise adjustment is impractical due to varying wood hardness and density

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock damageVSAvoiddepth adjustment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The deformable feature in the fastener head provides self-regulating shock absorption. As the fastener is driven into the substrate, the deformable feature automatically deforms to absorb excess energy when encountering hard surfaces or inconsistencies, eliminating the need for operators to manually adjust drive depth settings for different materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic characteristics to the fastener through the deformable feature, which can change its mechanical response based on the driving conditions. The feature remains elastic during normal driving but deforms plastically when excessive force is applied, providing adaptive protection without requiring external control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a deformable feature is added to the fastener head, then excess energy is absorbed, but the fastener structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy absorption capabilityVSAvoidfastener structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by incorporating the deformable feature as a localized element within the fastener head rather than changing the entire fastener structure. This allows the complex shock-absorbing functionality to be concentrated in a specific region while the rest of the fastener maintains its simple, conventional design for manufacturing and performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The deformable feature can be formed as an integrated part of the fastener head through processes like selective heat treatment or by using composite construction techniques, combining materials or treatment zones with different mechanical properties to achieve both deformability and structural integrity within a unified component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 deformable feature effectively absorbs a wide range of excess energy, reducing the shock experienced by the tool and preventing damage to the fastener and substrate, ensuring precise depth adjustment and safe driving across different materials.

Implementation Method 1

At least one deformable feature is formed on the head and is configured to absorb energy and to deform when a driving element is driven onto the head to drive the fastener into the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the shank is heat treated (for hardening) and the head, including the deformable feature, is not heat treated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat treatment: Heat Treatment

Data Source

PatentUS8226341B2Shock absorbing fastener

Publication Date: 2012.07.24 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

AI summary

A fastener for driving into a substrate has a head having an upper surface and a lower surface, a penetrating tip and a shank extending from the lower surface of the head to the penetrating tip. At least one deformable feature is formed on the head. The deformable feature is configured to absorb energy and to deform. When a driving element is driven onto the head to drive the fastener into the substrate, the deformable feature absorbs energy and is deformed as the head contacts the substrate.