Flexible Fastener with Cutouts for Variable Panel Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners are limited in their ability to securely attach components with varying thicknesses, often requiring modification or replacement, and lack versatility in accommodating a wide range of panel thicknesses during manufacturing and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A flexible fastener design featuring a cylindrical body with radially extending flanges, shoulders, and fingers that pivot to secure components, along with cutouts that allow the body to flex and lock into specific features, enabling secure attachment across a wide thickness range while allowing easy installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standardized fastener with specific tolerance is used, then the fastener structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it allows for a narrow range of panel thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener incorporates a flexible body with cutouts that allow dynamic deformation to accommodate varying panel thicknesses. The body can flex and adapt its shape during installation, enabling a single fastener design to work across a wide thickness range without requiring multiple standardized sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener design changes the physical state of the body from rigid to flexible through strategic cutouts, allowing the material to deform and adapt to different panel thickness parameters. This parameter change enables the fastener to maintain functionality across varying thickness conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the fastener body is made flexible to accommodate varying thicknesses, then the adaptability increases, but the strength and failure load may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener body is segmented through cutouts that create distinct flexible and rigid zones. The cutouts allow specific portions to flex for adaptation, while other portions maintain structural integrity for strength. This segmentation enables simultaneous achievement of flexibility and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fastener body have different mechanical properties - areas with cutouts provide flexibility for thickness adaptation, while solid regions provide strength for load bearing. This local differentiation of quality allows the fastener to exhibit both adaptive and strong characteristics in appropriate locations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible fastener design is used to accommodate varying thicknesses, then the versatility improves, but the installation and removal process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible body with cutouts enables the fastener to self-adjust and self-lock during installation by deforming to match the panel thickness and automatically engaging with the panel features. This self-service mechanism simplifies the installation process despite the flexible design.
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 fastener provides secure attachment and high failure load across a wide range of component thicknesses, with audio and tactile verification of installation, and can be repeatedly used without compromising strength, simplifying manufacturing and maintenance processes.
Implementation Method 1
The body is flexible along the cutouts
Implementation Method 2
The fingers may protrude from the shoulders, toward the flange, and flex along a pivot point to secure the first component and the second component
Implementation Method 3
Each of the sidewalls may comprise a locking component that mates with a locking component of the other sidewall to lock the sidewalls of the cutouts together during application of an extraction force
Implementation Method 4
The hollow cavity may comprise a plurality of ribs and support members that extend from the shoulders to the fastener head. The ribs and the support members may also increase the fastener's maximum failure load
Implementation Method 5
The fingers are flexible and cooperate with locking features of a first component to sufficiently hold the first component and a second component between the fingers and the flange
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener includes a body, a fastener head having a flange extend radially outward from the body, and a plurality of shoulders that extend outwardly from the body. The body also includes a finger that extends from one end of each of the shoulders. The body further includes a plurality of cutouts positioned on the body between the shoulders. The body is flexible along the cutouts. The fingers are also flexible and cooperate with a plurality of locking features of a first component to sufficiently hold the first component and a second component between the fingers and the flange.