Floating Clip Support Surfaces for Centering Under Shear Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clips for fastening elements are prone to deformation or damage under torsional and shearing loads, and often provide too rigid a support, leading to inadequate centering and increased risk of damage during mounting.
Innovation Solution
The clip design incorporates rounded or blunt wing ends with additional support surfaces perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, allowing for improved stability while still permitting translation within the clip holder, featuring a head with two wings and a tip, with sides that are compressible and pivotable about the tip, and support surfaces angled less than 45 degrees to enhance centering and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the clip provides rigid support during mounting, then the clip is stable and resistant to deformation, but the rigid support often leads to deformation or damage to the clip itself during mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing the support surfaces to be compliant rather than rigid, allowing the clip to absorb mounting errors and tolerances through controlled deformation. The support surfaces are configured to provide gradual engagement that cushions against sudden impacts or misalignments during the mounting process, preventing damage while ensuring proper installation.
2Ease of operation
If the clip is designed with rounded or blunt wing ends for holding, then the clip is easier to install, but the resistance to torsional and shearing loads is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the functions of different parts of the clip. The wing ends are designed with rounded or blunt features for easy insertion and holding, while the shank and support surfaces are configured with specific geometries and material properties to provide enhanced resistance to torsional and shearing loads. This localized optimization allows each part to excel at its specific function without compromising overall performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials or composite structures by combining different material properties or structural configurations within the clip. The clip may use materials with varying elasticity, strength, and toughness distributed throughout its structure, or incorporate reinforcement features in critical areas, to simultaneously achieve ease of installation and high resistance to torsional and shearing loads.
3Measurement precision
If additional support surfaces are added to stabilize the clip, then the centering is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the support function into multiple discrete support surfaces distributed around the clip. Rather than one complex support mechanism, several simpler support surfaces are arranged to collectively provide stabilization and centering. Each support surface engages with corresponding features on the mounting substrate, and their combined action achieves precise centering while keeping individual components simple.
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 clip provides enhanced resistance to torsional and shearing loads, maintains centering, and reduces the risk of deformation or damage during mounting, while allowing for translation and improved stability through its unique support surface design.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient element carrying the second contact surface is pressed in during insertion, but springs back into its initial position after it has been completely inserted into the opening
Data Source
Figure 1~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a clip for fastening a first element to a second element, in particular for installing components for vehicles, wherein the clip has a head having two wings, which extend from each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the clip, and has a tip and a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side extend from the head in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the clip to the tip and the first and the second sides are connected to each other by the tip and can be pressed together in such a way that the first and the second sides can be moved toward each other about the tip. At least one side has a section that is farther from the longitudinal axis than another section, wherein at least one wing has a support surface at the end of said wing, which support surface extends at an angle of less than 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the clip at least in some sections.