Fastening Clip With Elastic Tab For Secure Groove Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fastening clips for vehicle connectors face issues with durability due to high mechanical stresses, damage during disassembly, and dimensional and thermal mismatches, leading to reduced holding force and potential separation.
Innovation Solution
A clip with elastically deformable areas and a design that compensates for material displacement, reducing permanent stresses and facilitating easy insertion without damage, using a tab with recessed and projecting surfaces to create a compressive force for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a protrusion of material is formed at the clip lug to cause the clip to jam in the groove, then the holding force is improved, but the mechanical stresses on the clip and groove increase leading to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the tab by introducing elastically deformable areas with recessed and projecting surfaces. This allows the tab to deform elastically during insertion and maintain continuous contact with the groove walls, providing holding force without concentrated stress points that would cause breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies flexibility to the tab structure by creating elastically deformable areas that can bend and conform to the groove during insertion. This flexible design allows the tab to jam securely in the groove while distributing mechanical stresses across the deformable regions rather than concentrating them at rigid protrusions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the tab is rigid to maintain holding force, then the connection is stable, but the insertion force required increases and damage occurs during disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static rigid tab into a dynamic structure with elastically deformable areas. During insertion, the tab deforms elastically to reduce insertion force; once positioned, it maintains stability through its deformable geometry that allows it to conform to and lock in the groove while remaining capable of controlled deformation.
3Strength
If manufacturing tolerances are tight to ensure proper fit, then the holding force is maintained, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces elastically deformable areas with specific geometric parameters (recessed and projecting surfaces) that allow the tab to compensate for dimensional variations. This elasticity enables the connection to maintain adequate holding force even when manufacturing tolerances result in slight dimensional differences between clips and connectors.
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 solution significantly reduces the risk of cracks and damage, maintains holding force under vibrations and temperature fluctuations, and simplifies the insertion process while ensuring secure attachment.
Implementation Method 1
the first face and the second surface together delimit at least one elastically deformable area
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a clip (1) for fastening an element with a groove, the boundary of which is formed by two parallel hook-in edges. The fastening clip has a tab (30), which is designed so that it can interact with the groove on two planes (35) and (36), which are parallel to one another. The tab (30) has a first surface (32) and a second surface (33). The first surface (32) is set back completely in relation to the first plane (35) and extends in the thickness of the tab (30) to the second plane (36). The second surface (33) protrudes completely from the second plane (36) to the outside of the tab (30) and extends opposite the first surface (32). The first surface (32) and the second surface (33) from the boundary of an elastically deformable region. The clip (1) is characterized in that the volume, which is bounded by the second surface (33) and the second plane (36) is smaller than the volume bounded by the first surface (32) and the first plane (35) or corresponds to the latter.