Fascia Retention Hook for Vehicle Grille Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hard fasteners used to connect vehicle components like grille assemblies and front-end module bolsters are time-consuming to assemble and difficult to remove for repair or replacement, and they do not provide a hidden connection for aesthetic purposes, potentially leading to mechanical failures and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A releasable fastener with a body having a planar capturing surface and a neck with reinforcing ribs, featuring a hook portion with a cam surface that forms an acute angle with the capturing surface, allowing for easy attachment and detachment by sliding over a cooperating flange, reducing the need for multiple components and minimizing damage during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional hard fasteners are used to connect grille assembly and front-end module bolster, then the connection strength is improved, but the assembly time increases and removal difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is segmented into distinct functional zones: a base portion for attachment to the grille assembly, a neck portion with reinforcing ribs for structural integrity, and a head portion with a planar capturing surface for engagement with the bolster. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently while maintaining overall connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic releasable connection. The head portion can be inserted and retained on the bolster, but can also be deliberately removed when needed, providing both strength during operation and ease of removal for maintenance.
2Strength
If conventional hard fasteners are used to connect grille assembly and front-end module bolster, then the connection strength is improved, but the ease of removal for repair increases difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is designed with dynamic retention characteristics - the head portion can be easily inserted and retained on the bolster during normal operation, but can be deliberately removed when repair is needed. This provides both strong connection and ease of removal for maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener structure allows for self-retention during operation through the head portion engaging the bolster, but enables self-removal when needed by simply pulling the head portion off the bolster, eliminating the need for special tools or complex removal procedures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional hard fasteners are used to connect grille assembly and front-end module bolster, then the structural integrity is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener design extracts the visible portion of the connection from the exterior view. The head portion with the planar capturing surface engages with the bolster from the interior side, allowing the connection to be made without visible fasteners on the exterior, thus maintaining aesthetic appearance while preserving structural integrity.
4Ease of repair
If multiple interacting components are used to provide releasable connection, then the ease of removal is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener merges multiple functions into a single integrated component. The base portion, neck portion with reinforcing ribs, and head portion with planar capturing surface are combined into one piece that provides both strong attachment to the grille assembly and easy engagement/removal from the bolster, eliminating the need for multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener structure serves multiple functions: the base portion attaches to the grille assembly, the neck portion provides structural reinforcement, and the head portion with planar capturing surface enables easy engagement and retention on the bolster. This multi-functionality in a single component reduces overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener for securing a first vehicle module to a second vehicle module includes a head having a substantially vertical capturing surface configured for releasably engaging a portion of the second vehicle module, a body having a base configured for attachment to a back of the first vehicle module and a neck extending between the base and the head. The neck includes at least one reinforcing rib structure. The head defines a hook portion including the capturing surface configured for releasably engaging a cooperating flange disposed on the second vehicle module. The hook portion further includes a cam surface configured for slidingly translating over the cooperating flange, the capturing surface and the cam surface meeting at an acute angle. In embodiments, the fastener is used to variably secure a vehicle grille assembly to a vehicle front end module bolster.