Vehicle Grille Tapered Tab Attachment Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The securement of attachments such as emblems and lights on vehicle grilles is time-consuming and costly due to the use of screws and nuts, and these fasteners can loosen over time due to vibration during vehicle use.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle grille assembly with tapered tabs and serrated retaining members that maximize surface contact to securely attach emblems or lights, using a design where serrations deflect to provide a lead-in for easy insertion and retention, minimizing initial force required for assembly and maintaining attachment even under vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If screws, nuts, and other fasteners are used to secure attachments to the grille, then the attachment can be firmly fixed, but the assembly time increases and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional fasteners (screws, nuts, studs) from the assembly process entirely. Instead, it uses tabs integrated into the grille that engage with retaining members on the attachment, eliminating the need for separate fastening components and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the tab structure directly into the grille body as an integrated feature rather than a separate component. The tabs are molded or formed as part of the grille itself, merging the support function into the main structure and eliminating additional parts.
2Strength
If screws, nuts, and other fasteners are used to secure attachments to the grille, then the attachment can be firmly fixed, but the cost of assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates multiple separate fastening components (screws, nuts, studs, washers) and replaces them with a simple tab-retaining member interface. This reduction in part count directly lowers material costs, inventory requirements, and assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple, inexpensive tab structures and retaining members that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. These components are designed to be cost-effective and functionally sufficient without requiring expensive materials or complex machining.
3Strength
If traditional fasteners are used to secure attachments, then the attachment can be firmly fixed, but vibration during vehicle use may loosen the fasteners over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic retention mechanism where the retaining member can flex or deform slightly to accommodate vibration and thermal expansion. The tab-retaining member interface allows for controlled movement while maintaining secure engagement, preventing fastener loosening under vibrational stress.
4Loss of time
If a simple attachment method is used, then assembly time is reduced, but the attachment may not remain secure under vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member is designed with flexible or deformable characteristics that allow it to dynamically respond to vibrational forces. This dynamic capability enables a simple, fast assembly process while maintaining secure attachment under vibration through controlled deformation and retention force.
Data Source
AI summary
A grille assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle grille having an opening with at least a pair of opposed edges, and at least one tab extending along at least one edge of the pair of opposed edges. The at least one tab has a base portion, an end portion, and two opposed faces extending between the base portion and end portion. The at least one tab is tapered such that a cross-sectional area of the tab taken along a plane extending perpendicular to either face of the opposed faces of the tab decreases in a direction extending from the base portion toward the end portion.