Nut Fastening Clip Assembly for Snap-Fit Panel Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening clips for connecting vehicle panels require screwing bolts, which is time-consuming and inefficient for mass production, and lack sufficient retaining force for secure connections.
Innovation Solution
A nut fastening clip with a threaded sleeve and resilient legs that allow snap-fitting and resilient deflection, providing a secure connection by snap-fitting with a second panel and using resilient legs to compensate for manufacturing and assembly tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing fastening clips are used with bolts, then secure connection is achieved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into two functional parts: a reusable fastening clip with threaded sleeve and a disposable resilient leg assembly. The resilient legs are segmented to independently deflect and engage with panel holes, allowing rapid snap-fit installation without complex bolt operations while maintaining secure connection through the threaded sleeve mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient legs are pre-configured in a deflected state within the fastening clip body, ready to engage with panel holes upon installation. The threaded sleeve is pre-positioned to receive the fastening bolt, eliminating the need for preliminary alignment adjustments during assembly and reducing installation time while ensuring secure fastening.
2Adaptability or versatility
If resilient legs are added to compensate for tolerances, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient legs are designed with specific material properties and geometric parameters (thickness, length, cross-sectional shape) that allow them to deflect within a controlled range. This deflection capability enables the fastening clip to adapt to manufacturing and assembly tolerances in panel holes without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, maintaining structural simplicity while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient legs transition from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can deflect and recover. This dynamic behavior allows the fastening clip to automatically adjust to varying hole positions and sizes within tolerance ranges, providing tolerance compensation through controlled deformation rather than complex mechanical adjustments.
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
Enables efficient assembly by pre-mounting to a first panel, reducing assembly time on the final assembly line and achieving a retaining force of 4000 N or more, ensuring secure connections between panels.
Implementation Method 1
resilient legs to compensate for manufacturing and assembly tolerances
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a nut fastening clip, including: a base plate, a threaded sleeve and a clip body. The threaded sleeve defines an opening and extends downwardly from the base plate. The clip body defines a cavity, and includes a pair of first side walls and a pair of retaining portions. The first side walls are connected to the base plate, each of the first side walls having a window thereon. The pair of retaining portions protrude outwardly from an interior of the cavity through the windows, wherein the pair of retaining portions are configured to be resiliently deflectable relative to each other. The nut fastening clip of the present disclosure may be first securely connected to a first panel so as to be pre-mounted as a nut fastening clip assembly, and then the nut fastening clip assembly is integrally snap-fitted with a second panel.