Floor Mat Fastener with Guide Protrusion for Easy Carpet Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fasteners for securing floor mats to carpets are troublesome to install due to the need for forced insertion of the lower clamping member into a T-shaped slit, which can cause displacement of the floor mat.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a guide protrusion on the lower clamping member that facilitates easy insertion into the carpet slit, combined with a locking mechanism to prevent displacement, including a tapered guide protrusion and inclined lower surface to ease the insertion process and ensure secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lower clamping member is forcibly inserted into the T-shaped slit to secure the floor mat, then the floor mat can be assuredly secured without displacement, but the installation process becomes troublesome and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A guide protrusion is introduced as an intermediary element between the lower clamping member and the T-shaped slit. The guide protrusion fits into the slit and guides the lower clamping member during insertion, making the installation process easier while maintaining securing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide protrusion is preliminarily inserted into the T-shaped slit before the main body of the lower clamping member is inserted. This preliminary action creates a guided path that facilitates the subsequent insertion and ensures proper positioning
2Reliability
If the lower clamping member is forcibly inserted into the slit, then engagement is achieved, but the floor mat may be displaced during the insertion process
Solution Approach 1:
The guide protrusion acts as a mediator that guides the lower clamping member into the correct position within the T-shaped slit, preventing misalignment and displacement of the floor mat during the insertion process while ensuring reliable engagement
3Device complexity
If a simple clamping structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the insertion into the T-shaped slit becomes difficult without proper guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is segmented into distinct functional parts: the lower clamping member, the guide protrusion, and the upper clamping member. This segmentation allows the guide protrusion to perform its guiding function independently while keeping the overall structure relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener for securing an automobile floor mat to a carpet laid on a floor within an automobile includes a lower clamping member, an upper clamping member, a hinge portion connecting the upper clamping member and the lower clamping member in a pivotable manner, a supporting portion forwardly protruded from a tip end portion of the lower clamping member, and a guide protrusion forwardly protruded from a tip end portion of the supporting portion and configured to so as to facilitate an insertion of the supporting portion and the lower clamping member to a backside of the carpet via a slit formed in the carpet. The upper clamping member has an engaging projection formed at an outer surface of a tip end portion thereof and configured to be inserted in an attaching hole formed in the floor mat and a locking portion formed at an inner surface of the tip end portion. The supporting portion has an engaging portion for engaging the engaging portion of the upper clamping member. An upper surface of the guide protrusion is tapered.