Elastic Locking Fastener for Reverse-Movement Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening arrangements are not secure against movement in the disengaging direction, making them unsuitable for applications with alternating forces, despite being easy to fit and tool-free.
Innovation Solution
A locking surface at the rear side of the wall portion engages with the locking protrusions to prevent reverse movement, using a locking recess or thickened regions for secure fastening, which can be integral or a separate connection unit, ensuring the article remains locked against disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If locking protrusions engage only with inner corner regions of the aperture, then the fastening arrangement is easy to fit without tools, but the article can be easily disengaged by moving across the clear space
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is divided into distinct functional zones: a first end region for initial protrusion engagement, a clear space for movement, and a second end region with locking surface for final secure engagement. This segmentation allows the fastening process to occur in stages, improving both ease of fitting and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The first locking protrusion engages with the inner corner region before the article is fully inserted, providing preliminary anchoring that guides the second protrusion through the clear space. This preliminary engagement makes the fitting process easier while setting up the conditions for secure final engagement.
2Ease of manufacture
If locking protrusions are positioned to engage with inner corner regions, then tool-free installation is achieved, but the arrangement cannot withstand large alternating forces in opposite directions
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions from a single-point engagement at the inner corner to a distributed engagement along the aperture length. The locking surface at the second end provides engagement in a different spatial dimension, creating a more robust connection that can resist alternating forces while maintaining the simple tool-free installation process.
3Area of stationary object
If the locking surface is arranged on a thickened region, then sufficient locking surface area is provided, but the wall portion thickness must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The wall portion is segmented into regions with different thicknesses: a thinner main body and a localized thickened region at the second end. This segmentation provides sufficient locking surface area only where needed, minimizing the overall thickness increase while ensuring adequate engagement area for the locking protrusion.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the locking surface is arranged on a separate connection unit, then adaptability to flexible materials is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A separate connection unit acts as an intermediary between the wall portion and the article. This intermediary component can be attached to flexible or curved surfaces where integral locking surfaces would not work, providing the necessary locking functionality while adapting to various material types and surface geometries.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
Fastening arrangement comprising an aperture (12) delineated in a wall portion (10) and an article (30) adapted to being connected to the aperture by elastic locking protrusions (44, 46) of the article which are directed away from one another and engage with a rear side of the wall portion, and a clear space of the aperture for allowing first the introduction of a first (44) of the locking protrusions through the aperture (12) at a first end of the aperture and thereafter the introduction of the second locking protrusion (46) through the clear space (s) at an opposite second end of the aperture. According to the invention a locking surface (14') at the rear side of the wall portion (10) is adapted to engaging with the first locking protrusion (44) and to preventing reverse movement of the article when the article has been moved along the aperture (12) across the clear space for engagement of the second locking protrusion (46) at the rear side of the wall portion (10).