Fastening Device Flange with Thin Inner Member for Click Sensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices for sheet-like members, such as silencers, fail to provide a clear sensation of completion during mounting on mounted members, often requiring additional checking steps and compromising air-tightness and sound insulation.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device comprising a cylindrical shaft, a flange with a thin outer peripheral part, and anchor leg locking members with built-up root portions, designed to reduce the deformation load of the flange and increase the load required for the anchor leg locking members, allowing for a distinct decrease in pushing force during the final stages of mounting, thereby achieving a 'click' sensation of completion without additional checking operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the fastening device is mounted onto a thick mounted member, then the fastening device can accommodate thicker members, but the indentation load becomes high making it difficult to achieve a sensation of completion of fastening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of thick mounted membersVSAvoidindentation load
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The flange is designed with non-uniform thickness, having a first thickness in the radial inner portion and a second thickness (greater than the first) in the radial outer portion. This local quality differentiation allows the radial outer portion to provide structural support for accommodating thick mounted members, while the radial inner portion maintains lower indentation load during fastening operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The flange is segmented into different thickness zones (radial inner portion with first thickness and radial outer portion with second thickness). This segmentation enables each zone to perform its specific function: the outer portion handles structural loading from thick members, while the inner portion provides the fastening sensation with appropriate load characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the fastening device is pulled out to check whether fastening is completed, then the fastening status can be verified, but the checking operation might damage the sheet-like member and increases the number of assembly steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification of fastening completionVSAvoidnumber of assembly steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device incorporates a built-in indication mechanism where the pushing load naturally decreases when the anchor leg locking members engage with the mounted member. This self-indicating feature eliminates the need for separate checking operations, as the operator can directly sense the engagement through the changing pushing force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback during the fastening process through the changing pushing load. When the anchor leg locking members engage with the mounted member, the pushing load decreases, providing immediate feedback to the operator that fastening is complete, without requiring additional verification steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the flange is made easily bendable, then the fastening device can be mounted more easily, but the air-tightness and sound insulation might be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of mountingVSAvoidair-tightness and sound insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flange employs local quality differentiation with varying thickness: the radial inner portion has a smaller thickness for ease of bending and mounting, while the radial outer portion has a greater thickness to maintain structural integrity, air-tightness, and sound insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The flange is segmented into functional zones with different thickness characteristics. The radial inner portion (easier to bend) handles the mounting operation, while the radial outer portion (thicker) ensures the reliability of air-tightness and sound insulation when the flange is pressed against the mounted member.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution ensures air-tightness and sound insulation while providing a clear indication of completion through a decreasing pushing load, eliminating the need for separate verification steps and ensuring secure mounting.

Implementation Method 1

the flange has an outer peripheral part and thin member with a thickness less than that of the outer peripheral part on the inner side of the outer peripheral part, and the flange is easily bent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

built-up members are preferably provided at the root portions where the anchor leg locking members are connected to the bottom member, and the anchor leg locking members are difficult to bend

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStructural reinforcement:

Implementation Method 3

a guide member for guiding the head member toward the shaft member is formed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical guidance:

Implementation Method 4

locking claws are formed on the guide member and locking shoulders are formed on the shaft member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3364051B1A method for mounting a sheet like member onto a mounted member by utilizing a fastening device and mounting structure
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 NEWFREY LLC
  • EP3364051B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3364051B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3364051B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem the Invention is to Solve] The object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device for a sheet-like member which is capable of achieving the sensing of a click to show the completion of fastening, in an attempt to mount a sheet-like member onto a mounted member. [Means to Solve the Problem] A fastening device for a sheet-like member for mounting a sheet-like member onto a mounted member comprises: cylindrical shaft member (12); flange (11), which is provided at the lower end portion of the shaft member and which has a greater diameter than that of the shaft member; a plurality of holding pieces (21), which are provided at the upper end portion of the shaft member and which are capable of being bent radially outward from hinge (22); head member (23), which connects the upper ends of the holding pieces together; guide member (24), which extends from the head member in the downward direction; bottom member (26), which is provided below the guide member; and a pair of anchor leg locking members (25), which extend obliquely upward from the bottom member. On the inner peripheral portion where the flange is connected to the shaft member, thin members (11a), with a thickness less than that of the outer peripheral part, are provided, and the flange is easily bent. Built-up members (28) are provided at a root part where the anchor leg locking members are connected to the bottom member, and the anchor leg locking members are hardly bent. As the load for pushing in the fastening device becomes smaller towards the completion of mounting beyond the peak load, the sensing of a click, to show the completion of mounting, can be achieved.