Modular Retention Clip With Isolated Cable Damping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retention clips for mounting cables, wires, tubes, or pipes to a vehicle frame are costly due to the need for multiple molding steps and assembly processes, particularly when incorporating vibration-absorbing materials.
Innovation Solution
A modular retention clip design featuring a clamping body with rotatable body portions and isolation members made of resilient material, integrated with a living hinge and latching mechanism, which can be efficiently manufactured using a two-shot molding process and easily assembled with various bracket configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration absorbing material is mounted as a separate part in the body portion, then vibration damping is improved, but part count and manufacturing cost increase due to added assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration absorbing material is integrated directly into the body portion of the retention clip as a unitary structure, eliminating the need for separate vibration damping parts and their associated assembly steps. This merging of functions reduces part count while maintaining vibration damping performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration absorbing material is injection molded in a two-shot process, then vibration damping is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to multiple molding steps for different bracket configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The retention clip is divided into two functional segments: a bracket portion that can be manufactured separately in various configurations, and a body portion with integrated vibration absorbing material. This segmentation allows the vibration damping feature to be incorporated once in the body portion design, while the bracket portion can be varied without requiring additional molding steps for each configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple molding steps are used to manufacture retention clips with integral brackets of various configurations, then adaptability to different bracket configurations is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The body portion of the retention clip is designed as a universal component with integrated vibration absorbing material that can interface with multiple different bracket configurations. This universal design allows a single body portion design to serve multiple applications, eliminating the need for separate molding steps for each bracket configuration while maintaining adaptability.
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 modular retention clip effectively dampens vibrations and reduces manufacturing costs by simplifying the assembly process and minimizing the number of molding steps required, while maintaining versatility in accommodating different bracket configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The isolation portions frictionally contact and retain the elongated articles in the engaged position
Implementation Method 2
isolation portions comprised of a resilient material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A modular retention clip for retaining elongated articles to a structure includes a clamping body (10) having first and second body portions (16, 18) of a first rigid material positionable between an open position and an engaged position. Isolation portions (12) of a second resilient material are attached to the first and second body portions that contact and retain the elongated articles in the engaged position. A living hinge (30) integrally connects the first and the second body portions and a latching member (36) is arranged to be captured within a receiving cavity (38) retaining the first and second body portions together. At least one mounting pin (50, 52) extends from the second body portion. A bracket (60) having a receiving portion (62) and a mounting portion (64) has at least one hole (61, 68) in the receiving portion that accepts the mounting pin to fix the clamping body to the bracket. The bracket mounting portion attaches the bracket to the structure.