Fastening Rail With Flexible Projections for Cable Harnesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening rails for elongate objects like cable harnesses face issues with secure attachment due to sliding problems and complex assembly or manufacturing requirements, particularly with locking teeth or rigid projections that complicate handling and increase production complexity.

Innovation Solution

A fastening rail with a binding surface featuring longitudinally flexible, tongue-like projections that resist lateral displacement while allowing deformation under tension, combined with friction projections to prevent longitudinal displacement, ensuring secure and easy assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If locking teeth are provided on the underside of the rail to prevent sliding, then the security of fastening is improved, but the locking teeth cannot penetrate sufficiently or break off when the force is too great since the band is made of tough material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of fasteningVSAvoidforce resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the engagement structure by replacing teeth with a longitudinal slot and projection system. The slot width is specifically designed to be slightly larger than the projection width, creating a controlled interference fit that provides securing force without requiring high penetration strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The longitudinal slot acts as an intermediary element between the rail projection and the band. Instead of direct tooth-to-band engagement, the slot mediates the interaction, allowing the projection to engage the band material in a controlled manner that distributes force and prevents both sliding and tooth breakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If a bar-like projection with a corresponding longitudinal slot is used to replace locking teeth, then the risk of breakage is avoided, but rigid positioning of the tape in relation to the rail results in complex assembly or manufacturing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce resistanceVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the engagement function into two separate components: the longitudinal slot in the band and the projection on the rail. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard processes, and the simple geometric forms reduce assembly complexity compared to precision-matched tooth-slot pairs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes the dimensional parameters of the slot and projection, making the slot width only slightly larger than the projection width. This parameter choice creates sufficient engagement for securing while maintaining ease of assembly, avoiding the need for complex positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If resilient projections with concavely bent webs are used to space the cable tie from the rail, then the cable ties can be attached in defined positions, but the assembly process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition definitionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the positioning function from complex resilient projection mechanisms and implements it through the simpler longitudinal slot geometry. The slot's fixed position on the rail binding surface automatically defines the attachment location without requiring additional resilient elements or complex assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 provides a secure and easy-to-assemble fastening system that prevents relative displacement between the rail and the object, maintaining stability under tension without impairing the binding security, even with varying forces.

Implementation Method 1

the projections are longitudinally flexible... the force required to deform the projections transversely to the binding surface is small compared to the band force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the projections are stiff against forces acting parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rail... able to resist lateral displacement of the ligament

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP1961094B1Fixing rail for an elongate object
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 HELLERMANN TYTON GMBH
  • EP1961094B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a rail (1), which is to be connected, by means of a strip, to an elongate object (4), in particular a cable harness or a line, and which has a bearing face (3), which is intended to bear against the object, and a connecting face (6), which faces away from said bearing face (3) and accommodates the strip. The invention provides for the connecting face (6) to have a plurality of projections (10) which are flexible transversely with respect to it. A strip arranged at any desired point on the connecting face is positioned transversely over one or more projections (10), whereby these projections (10) are pressed down. Adjacent projections (10), which are not pressed down and provide resistance to a lateral displacement of the strip, are located on one and/or the other side.