Fastener Assembly With Flexible Nut Holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for connecting electrical contacts to a circuit board are costly, time-consuming, and risk damage during assembly, and compromise power density due to the need for fixtures or special manufacturing processes, or require additional space for tool installation and removal.
Innovation Solution
A fastener assembly featuring a nut holder with flexible legs and a non-circular nut holder base that secures a hexagonal nut, allowing for alignment and secure fastening without the need for fixtures, enabling easy assembly and maintaining power density by allowing the circuit board to be moved freely during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixture is used to hold parts during fastening, then assembly precision and accessibility are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fastening function from the enclosure and integrates it directly into the enclosure structure through built-in recesses and protrusions. This eliminates the need for separate fixtures while maintaining assembly precision, as the enclosure itself provides the positioning and fastening features needed for connecting contacts to the circuit board.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fastening function with the enclosure structure by incorporating recesses and protrusions directly into the enclosure. This combination eliminates the need for separate fixtures and reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to precisely position and fasten components during assembly.
2Ease of operation
If additional space is provided for tool installation and removal, then ease of operation is improved, but power density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing additional space for tools outside the enclosure, the patent inverts the approach by integrating fastening features directly into the enclosure structure. The recesses and protrusions enable tools to access and fasten components through the existing enclosure boundaries, eliminating the need for extra space while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension by creating recesses that extend into the enclosure structure rather than requiring additional lateral space. This vertical integration allows tools to access fastening points through the enclosure's existing volume, maintaining power density while enabling ease of operation.
3Productivity
If parts are transferred from fixture to enclosure assembly, then assembly is completed, but risk of damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary positioning actions by incorporating positioning features directly into the enclosure structure. Components are positioned and secured in their final locations through the integrated recesses and protrusions, eliminating the need for separate transfer operations from fixtures to enclosures and thereby reducing damage risk.
4Strength
If standard bolted connections are used, then mechanical strength is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fastening function with the enclosure structure by incorporating recesses and protrusions directly into the enclosure. This integration maintains mechanical connection strength while reducing device complexity, as the enclosure itself becomes part of the fastening system rather than requiring separate fastening components.
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
This solution reduces assembly costs and time, minimizes damage risk, and maintains power density by allowing the circuit board to be easily installed into an enclosure without additional space requirements, while enabling secure mechanical and electrical connections.
Implementation Method 1
The nut holder includes a base and a plurality of flexible legs which project from the base. Each leg is adapted to be inserted through a corresponding one of the slots and to hold the nut holder to the second part.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener assembly includes a second part for fastening to the first part. The first and second parts have openings for aligning with each other. The second part has a plurality of slots spaced apart from its opening. A nut holder is mounted to the second part. The holder has a base and a plurality of flexible legs projecting from the base. Each leg is adapted to be inserted through a corresponding one of the slots and to hold the holder to the second part. The base has a hexagonal shaped opening. The assembly also includes a hexagonal nut and a bolt. The nut is non-rotatably received by the hexagonal opening. The threaded shaft of the bolt extends through the first and second openings, and is threadably received by the nut so that the first part is held between the bolt head and the second part.