Hole Plug With Bendable Thin-Walled Leg For Extraction Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hole plugs face difficulties in extracting force while maintaining operability and water-tightness, with existing designs either requiring excessive force for insertion or risking disengagement under external stress.
Innovation Solution
A hole plug with a leg portion featuring a bendable thin-walled structure that transitions from a non-bending to a bending state upon external force, enhancing extraction force and maintaining attachment operability, and a flange portion that automatically returns to its original state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If locking claws are scattered around the outer wall, then the hole plug can be easily inserted into the hole, but it is difficult to enlarge the force necessary for extracting the hole plug
Solution Approach 1:
The outer wall is designed with a bendable thin-walled portion that can dynamically change its state between non-bending (during insertion) and bending (during extraction). This dynamic characteristic allows the structure to be flexible during insertion for ease of operation, and then rigidify when bent to provide high extraction force resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the outer wall by introducing a bendable thin-walled portion. When this portion bends, it transforms the structural parameters of the locking claws, enabling them to engage more deeply and securely with the hole edge, thereby increasing extraction force without compromising insertion ease.
2Reliability
If the annular groove is fitted into the peripheral edge of the hole, then waterproof performance is improved, but the operability at attachment time becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the outer wall into a rigid portion and a bendable thin-walled portion. The rigid portion maintains structural integrity and positioning, while the bendable portion provides flexibility for easy insertion. This segmentation allows the annular groove structure to achieve both good attachment operability and waterproof performance.
3Device complexity
If the engagement structure is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability under external force may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bendable thin-walled portion automatically responds to external forces by bending and rigidifying, providing self-adjusting engagement reliability without requiring additional complex mechanisms. This self-service characteristic maintains reliability while keeping the overall structure 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 hole plug achieves improved extraction force, water-tightness, and independent insertion and extraction forces, preventing disengagement while maintaining usability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The thin-walled portion is elastically bent by an external force to be capable of transitioning from a first usage condition in which the outer wall is locked in the hole with the thin-walled portion being in a non-bending state to a second usage condition in which a force larger than the first usage condition is provided to pressure contact relative to the hole
Data Source
AI summary
A hole plug includes a head portion, a leg portion, and a flange portion. In a state wherein the leg portion is inserted to be locked relative to a hole of a plate material until the flange portion abuts against the plate material and is controlled, the hole plug blocks the hole. The leg portion includes an approximately cylindrical inner wall connected to the head portion; and an outer wall extending along the inner wall with a gap between the inner wall from a folded portion provided in an end portion of the inner wall, and forming a bendable thin-walled portion in one portion. The thin-walled portion is elastically bent by an external force to be capable of transitioning from a first usage condition in which the outer wall is locked in the hole with the thin-walled portion being in a non-bending state to a second usage condition in which a force larger than the first usage condition is provided to pressure contact relative to the hole.