Offset Leg Fastener Clip for Vehicle Panel Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fasteners for attaching vehicle body panels to the chassis face issues with inconsistent insertion and extraction forces, inadequate security on varying sheet metal thicknesses and curvatures, and failure to mitigate noise and vibration, leading to wear, corrosion, and reduced sealing over time.

Innovation Solution

A fastener clip assembly with laterally offset legs and wings featuring engagement regions and a carrier that adapts to different sheet metal thicknesses and curvatures, providing high extraction force while minimizing insertion force, and incorporating a carrier for enhanced vibration damping and sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional fasteners with stepped arms are used, then engagement with slot is achieved, but only one of four discrete step positions is engaged rather than continuous range of engagement positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement position rangeVSAvoidstep structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastener clip divides the engagement function across multiple independent resilient arms, each capable of independent deformation and engagement. This segmentation allows each arm to adapt to different thicknesses and curvatures independently, providing continuous engagement position adjustment rather than discrete step positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient arms are designed as flexible structural elements that can deform to accommodate varying sheet metal thicknesses and curvatures. This flexibility replaces the rigid stepped structure with a continuous adaptation capability, allowing the fastener to engage at any position within a range rather than at fixed discrete steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If fastener clip arms are twisted during engagement, then slot engagement is achieved, but wear and noise generation occur over time due to movement within step size range

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidnoise and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient arms provide dynamic adaptation to slot variations without requiring twisting motion. The elastic deformation absorbs misalignment and tolerance variations, eliminating the twisting action that causes wear and noise while maintaining secure engagement through continuous elastic resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient nature of the arms converts what would be harmful twisting movements into beneficial elastic deformations. The flexibility that might seem to reduce engagement precision actually prevents harmful stresses by allowing smooth adaptation to slot variations, thereby reducing wear and noise while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional fasteners are used, then body panel attachment is achieved, but inadequate accommodation of production tolerances and sheet metal variations occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetolerance accommodationVSAvoidengagement consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient arms act as flexible elements that accommodate production tolerances and sheet metal variations through elastic deformation. This flexibility allows the fastener to engage consistently across varying thicknesses and curvatures without requiring high manufacturing precision, as the resilient structure adapts to the actual dimensions encountered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The fastener design changes the mechanical parameter of the engagement portion from rigid to resilient, enabling the structure to adapt its geometry elastically. This parameter change allows the same fastener to accommodate a wide range of thicknesses and curvatures while maintaining consistent engagement quality, effectively bridging the gap between manufacturing tolerances and functional performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 fastener clip assembly ensures secure attachment of body panels with reduced assembly force, minimizes noise and vibration, and adapts to environmental changes, improving long-term reliability and safety while simplifying manufacturing and reducing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient body panel engagement portion operable to elastically deform to continuously adapt to different sheet metal thicknesses and curvatures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

minimizes noise and vibration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS9649993B1One step assembly fastener clip

Publication Date: 2017.05.16 TERMAX CORP

AI summary

A fastener clip assembly including a first part and a second part. The first part is configured to engage and be secured to a first article, where the second part is configured to engage and be secured to a second article, and where the first part is configured to engage and be secured to the second part. The first part is pre-attached to the second part with a frangible link, where the first part is configured to engage and be secured to the second part based at least upon breaking the frangible link, and where breaking the frangible link is based at least upon pressing the first part toward the second part.