Elastomer Cover Locking Assembly for Impact-Resistant Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing covers made of resin materials with low hardness, such as elastomers, face reliability issues due to accidental unlocking from external impacts, and complex retaining structures lead to increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A cover design featuring a pair of elastomer edges with integrally formed first and second locking parts, where the first locking part includes a base end piece and tip piece with a locking groove, and the second locking part has a notch and bridge with an insertion hole, allowing secure locking and easy release through a simple, inclined tip plate and protruding portion configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a locking protrusion is locked to a locking recess to prevent coming-off, then the cover can be assembled without fastening members, but the mutual locking may be accidentally released due to external impacts when made of low hardness resin materials
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses an elastomer material that combines flexibility with sufficient mechanical strength. The elastomer provides both the ease of assembly without fastening members and the reliability to maintain locking state under external impacts, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.
2Reliability
If a complex retaining structure is used to prevent accidental unlocking, then the reliability of the covering state is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking protrusion and locking recess are integrally formed with the cover body, merging the retaining function into the basic structure. This eliminates the need for separate fastening members or complex retaining mechanisms, achieving both reliability and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover body itself provides the locking and retaining functions through its integral locking protrusions and recesses, without requiring additional components. The structure is self-sufficient, maintaining reliability while minimizing complexity.
3Device complexity
If a simple locking structure is used, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the cover may come off easily under external impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer material provides a balance between structural simplicity and impact resistance. The material's inherent properties allow a simple integral locking structure to maintain high reliability under external impacts.
Data Source
AI summary
A cover includes: divided covers, made of an elastomer; a first locking part, integrally formed on an edge of one divided cover; and a second locking part, integrally formed on an edge of the other divided cover. The first locking part includes a base end piece and a tip piece, and has a locking groove opening on a side opposite to an abutment direction formed between the base end piece and the tip piece. The second locking part includes a notch and a bridge. An insertion hole communicating with the notch is formed inside the bridge. By inserting the tip piece and the base end piece through the insertion hole and locking the bridge to the locking groove, the first locking part is locked to the second locking part while being prevented from coming off.