Helical Detent Fastener Structure for Dust-Relieving Insertion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Fasteners face challenges when entering materials like concrete and masonry due to generated particulate, which impedes their progress and increases installation effort.

Innovation Solution

A fastener design featuring a shank with varying thread angles and a continuous helical arcuate detent region between thread turns, which acts as a dust channel to remove particulate, allowing smoother insertion by providing a space for debris to rest.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional fastener design is used, then the fastener can bind materials securely, but particulate generated during insertion impedes progress and increases installation effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation effortVSAvoidparticulate impeding progress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful particulate from the insertion path by creating a dedicated dust channel (detent region) between the thread turns. This channel captures and removes particulate generated during fastener insertion, preventing it from impeding further progress. The detent region acts as a separate extraction system that isolates the harmful effect from the main insertion path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The detent region serves as an intermediary structure between the thread turns, providing a designated space for particulate accumulation. This intermediary channel mediates the interaction between the fastener and generated debris, allowing smooth insertion by providing a receptacle for debris rather than letting it obstruct the thread engagement path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the fastener enters hard materials like concrete and masonry, then secure binding is achieved, but significant installation effort is required due to particulate generation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding strengthVSAvoidinstallation effort

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful particulate generation into a beneficial feature by designing the detent region to actively manage and channel the debris. The dust channel, positioned between thread turns, transforms the problematic debris into a controlled element that does not interfere with insertion. The helical geometry of the detent region allows particulate to be naturally channeled outward, converting the harmful effect into a self-managing system that reduces installation effort while maintaining binding strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11002305B2Fastener with continuous detent region

Publication Date: 2021.05.11 SIMPSON STRONG TIE

AI summary

A fastener includes a shank having a first end and a second end. The fastener also includes a thread provided on the shank, the thread including a first region having a first thread angle and a second region with a second thread angle, at least a portion of the thread having said first thread angle. The fastener also includes an arcuate detent region in the shank between respective turns of the thread.