Offset Pin and Grommet Fastener with Sliding Inner Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pin and grommet fasteners are inadequate for applications where pins need to be inserted with significant offset in both X and Y directions, particularly in scenarios involving multiple pins and blind positioning, as they require precise central alignment, which complicates the insertion process.
Innovation Solution
A pin and grommet fastener design that includes an inner housing with a pin retention receptacle and entry ramps, along with an outer housing featuring resilient retention wings and centering blades, allowing for slidable movement in the Y-direction during pin insertion, accommodating offset pins by flexing and adjusting the pin retaining receptacle's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the pin is required to be centrally aligned with the pin receiving aperture, then the insertion precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for physical repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet is designed with dynamic elements including resilient retention wings that can flex and a pin receiving aperture that can shift position within a predetermined range. This allows the grommet to adapt to pins that are offset from the center, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment while still achieving secure retention once inserted
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the pin receiving aperture by allowing it to move or shift position within a predetermined range relative to the grommet body. This parameter change enables the aperture to accommodate pins with offsets in both X and Y directions, resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and insertion ease
2Manufacturing precision
If the pin receiving aperture is fixed in position, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates regarding offset accommodation
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet incorporates dynamic components such as resilient retention wings and a movable pin receiving aperture that can shift within a predetermined range. This dynamic design allows the aperture to accommodate pins with offsets while maintaining manufacturing precision for the overall grommet structure
Solution Approach 2:
The grommet is divided into distinct functional components including the body, resilient retention wings, and pin receiving aperture. This segmentation allows the aperture and retention mechanism to move independently relative to the main body, enabling offset accommodation without compromising the precision of the overall manufacturing
3Productivity
If multiple pins are inserted simultaneously, then the productivity is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring worsens due to blind positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient retention wings provide dynamic feedback during insertion by flexing as pins are inserted. This mechanical feedback allows operators to detect when pins have been properly inserted even in blind positioning scenarios, enabling simultaneous insertion of multiple pins without visual verification
Solution Approach 2:
The grommet structure itself provides the detection mechanism through the resilient retention wings that flex and provide tactile feedback during pin insertion. This self-service detection system eliminates the need for external verification tools or visual inspection, facilitating simultaneous multi-pin insertion
Data Source
AI summary
An inner housing defines a pin retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing and extends into an interior thereof. The pair of inner housing retaining surfaces can engage the pair of cooperating inner housing retaining surfaces, with the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing extending into the interior of the outer housing, to slidably couple the inner housing and the outer housing together while permitting movement of the inner housing relative to the outer housing in a Y-direction in response to the inner housing moving in the Y-direction during insertion of the pin into the pin retaining receptacle. Associated methods are also disclosed.