Lightweight Fastener Frame Orientation for Compact Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lightweight fasteners in the vehicle and aircraft industries face challenges in manufacturing complexity and high production costs due to the need for stable frames that complicate mountability and increase production steps, especially when designed with projections transverse to the clip leg, affecting the clip's width and stability.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement of frames is rotated 90° so that retaining lugs extend parallel to the clip leg's longitudinal extent, allowing for a more compact and lightweight design by decoupling the clip's width from the fastening element's dimensions, and incorporating a holding part with a central opening and frames across the leg for secure fastening with play, facilitating easier assembly and torque distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frames are arranged transversely to the clip leg with projections extending perpendicular to the leg, then the fastening element can be held with lateral play, but the clip width is increased and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by rotating the frames 90 degrees so that they extend parallel to the clip leg instead of transversely. The projections now extend perpendicular to the leg direction, allowing the fastening element to be held securely while the clip maintains a compact width. This inversion resolves the contradiction by achieving stable fastening without increasing clip dimensions or manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement from a transverse frame configuration to a longitudinal configuration aligned with the clip leg. This dimensional reorientation allows the fastening element to be positioned and secured along the length of the clip rather than across its width, reducing the overall clip dimension while maintaining fastening stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If frames are designed to provide structural stiffening, then the clip stability is improved, but the assembly difficulty increases due to reduced flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the frame arrangement to extend parallel to the clip leg, the patent achieves structural stiffening in the longitudinal direction without compromising assembly flexibility. The frames provide necessary support along the leg length while allowing the clip to be easily assembled by sliding the fastening element into place without requiring complex frame manipulation.
3Reliability
If the fastening element dimensions determine the clip width, then the fastening is secure, but the clip size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the frame arrangement so that fastening security is achieved through longitudinal alignment with the clip leg rather than through increased clip width. The frames extend parallel to the leg, securing the fastening element along the length of the clip, which allows the clip to maintain a compact, lightweight cross-section while providing secure fastening.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A lightweight fastener 30 comprises two basic elements: a clip body 40 and an associated fastening element 32. The clip body 40 has a first leg 41 and a second leg 42, which are arranged opposite each other and connected at one end by a web 45. The fastening element 32 includes a flat base plate 34 with two projections 35, 36 and a cylindrical retaining part 33. The second leg 42 has two frames 43, 44 with openings 46, 47 on its outer side. These frames are designed to receive the projections 35, 36 of the fastening element 32, so that the fastening element is held in the clip body 40 with some play but in a captive manner. The frames 43, 44 are arranged essentially transversely to the longitudinal axis LA, which is why the orientation of the two projections 35, 36 is also oriented along the axis LA.