Movable Flange Fastener for Door Trim Impact Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment devices for motor vehicle door trim panels fail to provide optimal retention during normal use and are prone to detachment during side impacts, leading to potential safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A male element with a flange and pin design, featuring a groove and resilient retaining member, allows axial movement of the flange on the pin to absorb impact forces, ensuring secure attachment and damping of pull-out forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the attachment device uses a fixed flange position on the pin, then the structure is simpler, but the retention is not optimal during normal use and the device is prone to detachment during side impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is made movable relative to the pin through a groove-retaining member mechanism, allowing the structure to dynamically adjust during impact events. The retaining member can move along the groove, enabling the flange to shift position to absorb impact forces while maintaining connection, thus improving reliability without requiring a completely complex multi-component system.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment device is divided into distinct functional segments: the pin, the flange, the groove, and the retaining member. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the groove provides the path for movement, the retaining member controls the movement, and the flange provides the attachment function, achieving reliable retention through coordinated simple components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the flange is rigidly fixed to the pin, then the structure is more stable, but the pull-out force during impact cannot be dampened, causing assembly member damage
Solution Approach 1:
The groove-retaining member mechanism is pre-configured to allow controlled movement of the flange relative to the pin. Before impact occurs, this mechanism is ready to absorb and dampen pull-out forces by allowing the flange to move along the groove, preventing excessive forces from being transmitted to the assembly members and protecting them from damage.
3Reliability
If the flange is allowed to move axially on the pin, then impact forces are distributed and detachment is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The complexity is localized to specific elements (the groove and retaining member) rather than affecting the entire structure. The pin and flange themselves remain simple components, but the groove-retaining member interface provides the necessary movement capability. This localized approach achieves impact resistance without making the entire device complex.
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 solution provides enhanced retention and impact resistance by allowing the flange to move axially on the pin, distributing impact forces and preventing detachment, thus ensuring the safety and integrity of the attachment system.
Implementation Method 1
a retaining member configured to resiliently engage in the groove and hold the flange on the pin in the first position
Implementation Method 2
an axial opening for receiving the pin and enabling the flange to be moved axially on the pin from a first position to a second position in response to a pull-out force applied to the first or second part
Data Source
AI summary
A male element for a device for attaching a first part to a second part, a male element comprising: a flange for retaining the second part; a pin intended to be axially inserted into a cavity of a female element attached to the first part, a foot being provided with a male assembly member intended to axially hold the pin in the female element, the body having a groove. The flange has: an axial opening for receiving the pin and enabling the flange to be moved axially on the pin from a first position to a second position; a retaining member configured to resiliently engage in the groove and hold the flange on the pin in the first position; and a radial rib abutting against the head when the flange is in the second position.