Deformable Guide Fastening for Bumper Skin Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fixing assemblies for motor vehicle bumpers fail to securely attach the bumper skin to the front vehicle structure, particularly between the grille and headlight locations, and cannot accommodate deformations due to temperature differences or shocks.

Innovation Solution

A fastening assembly featuring a guide pin, deformable guide means, a hook, and a receiving opening that allows movement in multiple directions, enabling secure attachment and flexibility to accommodate structural deformations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If bumper skin is rigidly fixed to the structure, then positioning precision is improved, but adaptability to deformations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidadaptability to deformations
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means is designed to be deformable, allowing the fastening assembly to dynamically adapt its shape and position in response to thermal expansions, shocks, or manufacturing tolerances. This dynamic characteristic enables the system to maintain secure fastening while accommodating structural deformations without compromising positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide means changes its physical parameters (shape, position) in response to environmental conditions such as temperature variations and mechanical shocks. This parameter change capability allows the assembly to maintain optimal fastening conditions while adapting to deformations of the bumper structure or vehicle frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If guide means is made deformable, then adaptability to deformations is improved, but retention capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to deformationsVSAvoidretention capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means provides dynamic adaptation through controlled deformation while the hook-receiving means and retaining means provide static retention forces. This combination allows the system to simultaneously accommodate deformations and maintain secure retention of the bumper skin to the structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the deformable guide means for adaptation, the hook-receiving means for positioning, and the retaining means for securement. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while working together to achieve both adaptability and reliable retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If multiple fastening points are used, then retention capability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretention capabilityVSAvoidfastening assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple fastening functions (guiding, positioning, retaining) are merged into a single integrated fastening assembly that combines the guide means, hook-receiving means, and retaining means. This merging provides reliable retention through multiple mechanisms while avoiding the complexity of separate fastening components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening assembly is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides guiding, positioning, and retaining functions. This universal design achieves reliable retention without increasing device complexity by consolidating multiple fastening roles into one optimized assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 assembly provides optimal retention and flexibility, allowing the bumper skin to be securely positioned on the vehicle structure even under deformation conditions, ensuring reliable attachment and durability.

Implementation Method 1

said guide means being deformable along the second direction (Y)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2655135B1Fastening assembly for a bumper fascia to a front structure of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2015.07.08 PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP2655135B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2655135B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2655135B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention relates to an assembly for fixing a skin (5) of a bumper (3) to a structure (2) of a front part (1) of a motor vehicle, said assembly having - a guide pin (10), a retaining means in a first direction (Z) and a means (14) for receiving a catch (16), enabling said catch (16) to move in the first direction (Z) and a second direction (Y) approximately perpendicular to the first direction (Z), said guide pin (10), said retaining means and said receiving means (14) belonging to the skin (5) of the bumper (3); and - a guide means (20) able to guide the guide pin (10) in the first direction (Z) and the second direction (Y), said guide means (20) being deformable in the second direction (Y), a catch (16) able to enter the receiving means (14), said catch (16) being designed to exert a stress on the skin (5) in a third direction (X) approximately perpendicular to the first and second directions (Z, Y), and an opening (22) able to receive the retaining means (51) in the second direction (Y), said guide means (20), said catch (16) and said opening (22) belonging to the structure (2). The invention also relates to a front part (1) of a motor vehicle, the structure (2) of which is fixed to a bumper (3) skin (5) by such an assembly, and an assembly method using such an assembly.