Electronic Fastener Neck and Bracket for Selective Component Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic device assembly methods require both components to be positioned before fastening, which can lead to unnecessary movement and potential damage during repair or replacement, especially when only one component needs to be replaced.

Innovation Solution

A fastener system with a mechanical interlocking feature, a shoulder, and a neck, where the fastener is affixed to a board or housing with a compressive force, allowing a second component to connect to the neck of the fastener without disconnecting the first component, using a bracket with a retention mechanism that engages with the neck to secure the second component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If conventional fastening methods are used where both components must be positioned before fastening, then the assembly structure is simple, but the risk of component damage increases during repair or replacement when only one component needs to be replaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent replacementVSAvoidcomponent damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is segmented into a fastener portion and a bracket portion that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The bracket can be removed from the fastener without affecting the first component's attachment to the board, enabling selective component replacement while minimizing damage risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The neck of the fastener serves as an intermediary connection point between the first and second components. The bracket with retention mechanism engages with this intermediary feature, allowing the second component to be attached or detached independently through the bracket-faster interface without directly affecting the first component's securement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If both components are positioned before fastening in conventional methods, then the assembly process is straightforward, but unnecessary movement of components occurs during repair operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly processVSAvoidcomponent movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly process is segmented into independent stages: first component attachment to board, then bracket attachment to fastener, and finally second component attachment to bracket. This segmentation allows the first component to remain stationary during bracket operations, eliminating unnecessary movement and time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first component is preliminarily secured to the board using the fastener before the bracket is attached. This preliminary action establishes a stable reference point that prevents unnecessary movement during subsequent bracket and second component operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4133917B1Systems and methods retaining components in an electronic device

Publication Date: 2024.05.15 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

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AI summary

A fastener (100) for retaining a plurality of components (334, 348) in an electronic device includes a body (102) with a bottom end and a top end, where the bottom end includes a mechanical interlocking feature (104) integrally formed with the bottom end and the top end includes a head (106) integrally formed with the top end. Between the head (106) and the mechanical interlocking feature (104), the body includes an integrally formed shoulder (108). A neck (110) is positioned between the shoulder (108) and the head (106) with a neck outer diameter that is less than a head outer diameter and a shoulder outer diameter.