Fastener Actuating Element With Visual Assembly Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening apparatuses for components to carrier components lack assembly verification mechanisms, making it difficult to ensure correct assembly and preventing unintended loosening of components during operation.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a base body and actuating element that includes catching means and spring elements, allowing for a secure connection and visual verification of the final assembly position, while applying a predetermined bias to prevent loosening, featuring a reduced construction height and volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no assembly verification device is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of correct assembly cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element itself serves as the assembly verification device. When the actuating element is in the retracted position, it visually indicates correct assembly without requiring separate verification components. The element's own position and configuration provide the verification function.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating element performs multiple functions: it applies force to transfer the apparatus from pre-assembly to final assembly position, and simultaneously serves as a visual assembly verification device. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by integrating verification into an existing component.
2Volume of moving object
If the actuating element is made compact, then the volume is reduced, but the force application capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element utilizes spring elements that provide dynamic force application. The spring elements can be compressed to store energy and then release this energy to apply the necessary force for assembly, allowing a compact design to generate sufficient force through elastic deformation rather than large mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The force generation is achieved through changing the compression state of spring elements rather than through the size of the actuating element itself. By varying the compression parameter of the springs, the force output can be controlled independently of the overall volume of the actuating mechanism.
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
Provides a simple and effective assembly verification mechanism, ensuring secure fastening and preventing unintended loosening of components, with a reduced design height and volume, and allowing for easy manufacturing through injection molding.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of spring elements can be arranged approximately equally spaced apart from one another on the base body radially circumferentially, which are inclined approximately radially and orthogonally to the assembly direction and in particular at a predetermined angle to the assembly direction and extend in such a way that the apparatus and a component fastened at or to the apparatus in the final assembly position can be subjected to a spring force acting counter to the assembly direction
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for fastening a component to a carrier component, in particular a body part, includes a base body, wherein the base body includes an actuating element via which the apparatus can be subjected to a force acting in the assembly direction in order to transfer the apparatus from a pre-assembly position into a final assembly position, wherein the assembly direction extends orthogonally to a surface of a carrier component, and wherein the actuating element comprises at least one catching element, which, in the pre-assembly position, engages with a correspondingly formed pre-assembly catching element of the base body and, in the final assembly position, engages with an assembly catching element of the base body, wherein a connection of the catching element to the assembly catching element verifies that the final assembly position is reached, such that the actuating element forms a visual assembly verification device.