Inclined Contact Assembly Structure for Tolerance and Heat Deformation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing assemblies, such as electronic devices attached to vehicles, face challenges in maintaining an assembled state due to variations caused by tolerance and heat-induced deformation.

Innovation Solution

The assembly includes a first member and a second member with a contact region where the first member's first contact region is inclined with respect to a reference surface, facilitating stable contact and easy maintenance of the assembled state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional contact regions (perpendicular to facing direction) are used, then assembly structure is simple, but assembled state cannot be maintained due to tolerance variation and heat deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintained assembled stateVSAvoidcontact region structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact region is designed with an inclined surface instead of a perpendicular surface, creating an asymmetric geometry that provides mechanical interlocking and prevents separation. The inclination angle is specifically configured to counteract the effects of tolerance variation and thermal deformation, ensuring reliable maintenance of the assembled state between members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If inclined contact region is introduced, then assembled state is easily maintained, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembled state maintenanceVSAvoidcontact region fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The contact region geometry is modified by changing the inclination angle parameter. This single parameter change enables the contact surface to accommodate tolerance variations and thermal expansion/contraction, maintaining assembly reliability while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple through standardized angular specifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250038498A1assembly

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 YOKOWO CO LTD

AI summary

An assembly includes a first member; and a second member attached to the first member. A contact region where the first member and the second member are in contact with each other includes a first contact region. The first contact region is inclined with respect to a reference surface perpendicular to a direction in which the first member and the second member face each other.