Elastic Cleat Protective Box for Plate Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective boxes for flat parts with openings, such as watch dials, face challenges in minimizing handling damage, accommodating varying dimensions, withstanding shocks, and maintaining cost-effectiveness, while ensuring easy insertion and extraction without influencing the holding force.
Innovation Solution
A protective box design featuring an elastically mounted flange with a cleat that uses helical springs to maintain consistent clamping force, allowing for interchangeable cleats to fit different diameters and thicknesses, and a transparent or perforated bottom for easy identification of contents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the box uses a rigid clamping device to hold the plate securely, then the holding force is strong, but the device cannot accommodate parts of different dimensions and may damage the part under excessive pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The cleat is made of an elastic material allowing its diameter to change. When the projection is pressed against the cleat, the cleat deforms elastically to accommodate different opening diameters while maintaining secure holding force. This resolves the contradiction by making the clamping parameter (diameter) variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic elastic system. The cleat can deform under load and recover, adapting its shape to different part dimensions while maintaining consistent holding force through elastic recovery.
2Reliability
If the box uses a fixed clamping mechanism to ensure secure holding, then the holding force is consistent, but the device cannot adapt to different part thicknesses and dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic cleat changes its diameter parameter in response to different part dimensions while maintaining reliable holding force through elastic deformation and recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping function is separated into the elastic cleat element and the rigid projection. The cleat handles adaptation to different dimensions while the projection provides the forcing mechanism, allowing each element to specialize in its function.
3Ease of manufacture
If the box uses a simple rigid structure to reduce manufacturing cost, then the unit cost is low, but the device cannot withstand accidental shocks and may damage contents
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic cleat acts as a pre-designed cushioning element that absorbs shock energy through elastic deformation. This protects the fragile dial contents from damage during accidental drops or shocks while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic material property allows the cleat to change its rigidity parameter dynamically - stiff during normal operation for secure holding, but flexible during shocks for energy absorption, providing both protection and simplicity.
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 effectively reduces damage from handling pressures, accommodates a wide range of part dimensions, withstands significant shocks, and lowers production costs by using interchangeable cleats and transparent or perforated components for easy content identification.
Implementation Method 1
the flange is itself retained by elastic means provided to bias it in the direction of the cover
Implementation Method 2
the elastic means are helicoidal springs
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 4
AI summary
The protective box comprises a base (2) and a lid (3), these being designed to fit together. The box also comprises a side plate (6) inserted into the base and held laterally by the rim (4), and an elastically deformable block (7) designed to immobilize a plate-like part pierced by an opening (11). The block is mounted on the upper face of the side plate and is designed to be inserted into the opening of the plate-like part. The lower face of the lid (3) also has a projection (8) designed to press against the block when the box is closed, so as to increase the outside diameter of the block and immobilize it in the opening of the plate-like part. The elastic means (9) are also provided to move the side plate (6) back towards the lid (3) in order to keep the block (7) immobilized in the opening of the plate-like part.