Vehicle Fastening Layout That Avoids Cover Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fastening devices in motor vehicles, such as those used to secure hoses or cables to an air filter box, often obstruct the cover or become wedged between components due to limited installation space, making mounting and dismounting difficult.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device with a flexibly bendable component and a receiving means that allows the second component to be moved along a joining direction without colliding with the fastening means, ensuring that the receiving portion and fixing means are spaced from the second component by a gap, preventing contact and obstruction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional fasteners are located in the joining area of the air filter box, then the fastening function is achieved, but the cover is obstructed during installation or the fastener becomes wedged between the cover and the air filter housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening functionVSAvoidmounting and dismounting operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device is extracted from the joining area and relocated to the outer surface of the air filter housing adjacent to the joining region. The receiving means is fixed to the outer surface while the fastening means extends beyond the joining region, separating the fastening function from the joining area to eliminate obstruction during cover installation and removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening device transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement within the joining area to a three-dimensional configuration where the receiving means is mounted on the outer surface and the fastening means extends beyond the joining region in the direction opposite to the joining direction, creating spatial separation that prevents interference with the cover

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the fastening device is located in the joining area, then the fastening function is achieved, but the installation space is limited and the fastener becomes trapped between components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening functionVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device is extracted from the constrained joining area and repositioned on the outer surface of the air filter housing, eliminating the problem of the fastener becoming trapped between the cover and housing while maintaining the fastening function through the receiving means and fastening means configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening device is segmented into distinct functional components: the receiving means fixed to the outer surface, the fastening means extending beyond the joining region, and the coupling section. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently without interference, simplifying the overall installation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the receiving portion and fastening means are close to the joining region, then the fastening function is achieved, but the second component collides with the fastening device during mounting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening functionVSAvoidinstallation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving means is positioned on the outer surface of the air filter housing with the fastening means extending beyond the joining region in the direction opposite to the joining direction. This three-dimensional positioning creates a gap between the fastening device and the second component during assembly, allowing smooth installation without collision while maintaining effective fastening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4278100B1Fastening device for fixing a component of a motor vehicle to a structural member, and motor vehicle having such a fastening device
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4278100B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4278100B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a fastening device (2) for fixing a component (4) of a motor vehicle to a structural member (6), having at least one fixing means (8) which has a fixing portion (10) to which at least one flexibly pliable component (4) of a motor vehicle can be fixed, and having at least one receiving means (20) which comprises a receiving portion (18) into which the fixing means (8) can be inserted along a coupling direction (24) by means of a coupling portion (16) of the fixing means (8) and can be fixed therein, and which can be fixed or is fixed on an outer surface of a first structural member (6) of the motor vehicle adjacent to a joining region (36) of the first structural member (6), wherein a second structural member (32) can be moved along a joining direction (34) towards the first structural member (6) and can be fixed to the first structural member (6) at the joining region (36), wherein the receiving portion (18) of the receiving means (20) and/or the coupling portion (16) of the fixing means (8) fixed to the receiving means (20) project/projects over the joining region (36) counter to the joining direction (34), and wherein the receiving portion (18) of the receiving means (20) is at a distance from the outer surface of the first structural member (6), by which distance the receiving portion (18) and the fixing means (8) fixed to the receiving portion (18) are spaced apart from, and without contact with, the second structural member (32) arranged on the joining region (36) - as viewed transversely with respect to the joining direction (34).