Hinged Light Guide Clamp for Tool-Free Mounting and Light Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping technologies for light guide elements, particularly those with flexible materials, require extensive coverage along their length to ensure secure fastening, often necessitating additional tools or materials like glue, screws, or complex manufacturing processes, and may compromise light transmission.
Innovation Solution
A clamping means with two hinged clamping sections that allow easy insertion and secure fastening of light guide elements, featuring a circular receiving section and parallel insertion legs for a positive fit, enabling tool-free attachment and durable fixation without compromising light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clamping means extend along the entire length of the light guide element to ensure safe fastening of flexible material, then fastening reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping means is divided into multiple discrete clamping sections spaced along the light guide element rather than using a continuous clamping structure. Each clamping section independently secures the light guide element at specific intervals, providing reliable fastening while reducing overall complexity and material usage.
2Strength
If additional fastening materials like glue or screws are used, then fastening strength is improved, but ease of manufacture and assembly are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping sections are designed to self-fasten to the light guide element through elastic deformation and snap-fit mechanisms. The clamping sections can be elastically deformed to insert the light guide element and subsequently return to their original state, automatically securing the element without requiring additional fastening materials or tools.
3Reliability
If clamping means completely enclose the light guide element, then fastening reliability is improved, but light transmission is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping sections are designed with selective enclosure - they clamp the light guide element at specific locations (clamping sections) while leaving other areas open or translucent. This allows the light guide element to be securely fastened at critical points while maintaining light transmission properties in areas where enclosure is not required for fastening.
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
Provides a simple, tool-free, and efficient clamping solution that securely fastens flexible light guide elements along their entire length, ensuring consistent light emission and easy production through injection molding, without the need for additional fastening materials or complex manufacturing steps.
Implementation Method 1
the clamping means features two clamping sections (12, 13), whereas the clamping sections are connected to each other by a hinge (14)
Implementation Method 2
made from plastic material, in particular from an elastomeric plastic material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a clamping means (1) for a light guide element (10), whereas the clamping means (1) features a receiving section (1a) for receiving the light guide element (10) and a fastening section (1b) for fastening the clamping means (1) and thus the light guide element (10) to a structure element (11). In order to simplify the arrangement of the light guide element (10) to the structure element (11), the invention discloses, that the clamping means (1) features two clamping sections (12, 13), whereas the clamping sections (12, 13) are connected to each other by a hinge (14), whereas when the clamping sections (12, 13) are opened to each other, the light guide element (10) can be inserted into or removed from the receiving section (1a) and when the clamping sections (12, 13) are closed to each other, the light guide element (10) is hold in the receiving section (1a).