Fastening Clip Assembly for Variable Thickness and Setup Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener assemblies are limited in their ability to securely connect components of varying thicknesses and provide multiple setup heights, as they are typically designed for specific thicknesses and single setup heights, making them inadequate for applications requiring flexibility in component positioning and thickness variability.
Innovation Solution
A fastening clip assembly featuring a collar with multiple legs of varying lengths and knuckles, along with a central stem and panel-engaging retainer, which allows for secure attachment of components with different thicknesses and adjustable setup heights by utilizing legs with back-angle sections and intermediate beams to accommodate a range of component thicknesses and positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fastener is designed for a specific thickness, then it can securely connect components of that thickness, but it cannot accommodate components with varying thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener incorporates legs with back-angle sections that can flex and adjust their position dynamically. This allows the fastener to adapt to different component thicknesses by deforming the back-angle sections, enabling a single fastener design to accommodate varying thicknesses without requiring multiple specialized fasteners for each thickness specification
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener design allows the back-angle sections to change their geometric parameters (angles and positions) based on the component thickness being fastened. By enabling these parameter changes, the fastener can maintain proper engagement and clamping force across a range of thicknesses, resolving the contradiction between specific thickness design and variable thickness accommodation
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fastener provides a single setup height, then it offers stable positioning, but it cannot accommodate multiple positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is divided into multiple functional segments including legs with back-angle sections and intermediate beams. This segmentation allows different parts of the fastener to perform different functions: some segments provide structural support while others enable height adjustment, allowing the fastener to achieve multiple setup heights through selective engagement of different segments
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener design integrates multiple functions into a single component: it can fasten components of varying thicknesses, provide multiple setup heights, and maintain stable positioning. The back-angle sections and intermediate beams work together to enable both thickness accommodation and height variability, making the fastener universal for multiple positioning requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fastener uses multiple legs with knuckles at different distances, then it can accommodate varying thicknesses, but it increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener combines multiple functional elements (legs, back-angle sections, intermediate beams, knuckles) into a single integrated component. This merging reduces the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, simplifying production while maintaining the ability to accommodate varying thicknesses through the integrated geometry of the combined elements
Data Source
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AI summary
A fastening clip assembly configured to secure one or more components is provided. The fastening clip assembly includes a collar having a lower surface, a stem extending from the lower surface of the collar to a lead-in nose, a first leg having a first knuckle, and a second leg having a second knuckle. Further, the first leg and the second leg extend from the lead-in nose. The first knuckle is located a first distance from the lower surface of the collar, the second knuckle is located a second distance from the lower surface of the collar, and the first distance is different than the second distance.