Leaf Spring Fitting Element for Window Groove Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening systems for windows and doors with undercut profile grooves face challenges in securing the clamping piece within the groove, particularly during transport and insertion, due to the limited compressive force of the spring element and dependence on groove width, leading to unreliable attachment and alignment.
Innovation Solution
The design features a leaf spring with a flat base and angled ends that match the groove's clear opening width, providing anti-twist protection and increased holding forces, along with a stop mechanism for secure positioning and reduced tightening torque, allowing the clamping piece to be easily inserted and secured within the groove.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a compression spring tightly encloses the screw shaft to provide holding force, then the clamping piece can be held away from the cover rail in its initial rotational position, but the spring can only exert minimal pressure initially, making secure positioning during transport unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element's geometry is changed from a conventional design to a leaf spring with a largely flat base and angled ends. This geometric parameter change allows the spring to exert sufficient compressive force in the initial rotational position to securely hold the clamping piece away from the cover rail during transport, while still allowing the clamping piece to be moved against the protruding shoulders when installed.
2Reliability
If the clamping piece is designed with an outermost width wider than the groove width to be held in final position, then the clamping piece can be secured against the protruding shoulders inside the groove, but the fastening system becomes dependent on the groove's internal width
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping piece is designed to rotate from an initial rotational position to a final rotational position. In the initial position, the outline width is narrower than the groove width for easy insertion. In the final position, the outline width is wider than the groove width for secure holding. This dynamic transformation allows the same component to satisfy both insertion and retention requirements without being dependent on specific groove dimensions.
3Reliability
If high tightening torque is applied to the screw to ensure secure fastening, then the clamping piece can be screwed against the protruding shoulders, but the compression spring tightly encloses the screw shaft making it difficult to apply sufficient torque, especially with motorized tools
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is designed with a largely flat base and angled ends that correspond in width to the clear opening width of the profile groove. This geometric parameter change reduces the spring's enclosure of the screw shaft compared to conventional designs, allowing motorized screwdriving tools to apply the necessary tightening torque to screw the clamping piece against the protruding shoulders inside the groove.
4Reliability
If the clamping piece outline is made wider than the groove width for secure holding, then the clamping piece can be held in final position, but insertion into the longitudinally open groove becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping piece rotates from an initial position where its outline width is narrower than the groove width (facilitating easy insertion) to a final position where its outline width is wider than the groove width (ensuring secure holding). This dynamic size transformation through rotation resolves the contradiction between ease of insertion and secure retention.
5Force
If the spring element is designed with conventional geometry, then it can provide compression force, but it twists in the profile groove during installation, preventing precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is designed with a largely flat base and angled ends where the distance between the angled ends corresponds in width to the clear opening width of the profile groove. This geometric parameter change prevents the spring element from twisting in the profile groove during installation, ensuring precise alignment of the clamping piece while maintaining the necessary compression force.
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
This design ensures reliable and secure attachment of the clamping piece within the groove, independent of the groove width, with reduced tightening torque requirements and enhanced process reliability, enabling easy insertion and reuse of the holding element.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element designed as a compression spring is arranged between the cover rail and the clamping piece and surrounds the shaft
Implementation Method 2
the leaf spring has a stop for the clamping piece in its initial rotational position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
A retaining element (3) for screwing a fitting part (2) to a profile groove (5) having an undercut of a window, a door or the like, consisting of a clamping piece (6) having narrow and wide sides, a screw (7) and a spring element (8), wherein a spring element (8) designed as a compression spring is arranged between the cover rail (4) and the clamping piece (6) and surrounds the screw shaft (10) and that the spring element (8) consists of at least one leaf spring (13) with a largely flat base part (14) and ends (12) angled towards the cover rail.