Attaching Member With Inclined Engagement to Prevent Backlash

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening structures for attaching members to attached members, such as vehicle emblems to grills, often result in backlash or looseness due to improper attachment, necessitating additional stabilizing structures.

Innovation Solution

An attaching member with obliquely inclined engaging portions that engage with frame portions of the attached member, restricting movement in two directions using cooperating engaging and engaged portions, without requiring additional fastening structures on the attached member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fastening structure is provided at the attached member, then the attachment stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attaching member is designed with self-aligning engaging portions that automatically position themselves during attachment. The inclined portion of the engaging portion guides the engagement process, allowing the attaching member to self-stabilize without requiring additional fastening structures at the attached member, thus maintaining attachment stability while avoiding increased complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging portion is designed with an inclined portion that allows dynamic adjustment during the attachment process. This inclined structure enables the engaging portion to gradually engage with the engaged portion, transitioning from a loose state to a stable engaged state, ensuring reliable attachment without requiring complex pre-positioned fastening structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If additional fastening structures are added to the attached member, then the attachment reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidattachment workability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attaching member performs its own alignment and positioning functions through the inclined engaging portion design. This self-aligning mechanism eliminates the need for operators to precisely position additional fastening structures, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliable attachment through the self-stabilizing engaging mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the engaging portion is made rigid, then the attachment stability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging portion incorporates an inclined portion that provides dynamic engagement capability. This inclined structure can be formed using standard molding or machining processes, making it easy to manufacture while still providing the rigidity needed for stable attachment when engaged. The inclination allows for gradual engagement that reduces manufacturing precision requirements compared to perfectly perpendicular engagement surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4541663B1Attaching member, combination of attaching member and attached member, and vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • EP4541663B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4541663B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4541663B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An attaching member (3) comprises a first member (4) including an engaging portion (43) and a first engaging portion (42) to engage with a first frame portions (21) from one side of a second direction and a second member (5) including an engaged portion (54) and a second engaging portion (53) to engage with a portion of the first frame portion (21) which is positioned on the other side, in the second direction, of the first engaging portion from the other side of the second direction. The engaging portion (43) includes an inclined portion (43a) positioned on the above-described one side of the second direction and extending obliquely from a tip of the engaging portion toward its base portion and from the above-described other side of the second direction to the above-described one side of the second direction. A portion of the engaging portion (43) positioned on the above-described one side of the second direction engages with the engaged portion (54).