Pivot Joint Boss Form With Engagement Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pivot joints in window fasteners face challenges in maintaining longevity and consistency of friction over operational cycles while also being cost-effective in manufacturing, as they often require multiple components and complex assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A pivot joint design featuring a boss form with spikes that engage a symmetrical plastic washer, which is compressed by a trilobular fastener to create uniform friction, eliminating the need for orientation and additional components, and utilizing a top-hat washer made of wear-resistant material to enhance endurance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pivot joint designs are used, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but longevity and friction consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single washer component. The washer simultaneously provides bearing surface, friction control, and rotational engagement through its integrated flange with protrusions that fit into recesses in the boss form. This eliminates the need for separate orientation features and multiple components, achieving longevity through unified design while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The washer features an asymmetric flange design with protrusions that engage with corresponding recesses in the boss form. This asymmetric geometry provides automatic orientation during assembly, ensuring consistent friction characteristics and rotational engagement without requiring additional orientation features or complex assembly procedures, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional pivot joint designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but friction consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric flange design with protrusions and recesses provides automatic self-alignment and orientation during assembly. This ensures that the washer is always installed in the correct orientation, guaranteeing consistent friction characteristics across all assemblies without requiring complex assembly procedures or additional orientation features, thus improving manufacturing precision while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The washer's protrusions automatically engage with recesses in the boss form during assembly, providing self-alignment and self-orientation. This self-service mechanism ensures consistent friction characteristics without requiring external alignment tools or complex assembly procedures, improving manufacturing precision while keeping device complexity low.
3Reliability
If multiple components are used in pivot joint, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single washer component that provides bearing surface, friction control, and rotational engagement through its integrated flange with protrusions. This consolidation reduces the number of parts and assembly steps, lowering manufacturing cost while maintaining reliability through the unified design that ensures consistent performance across operational cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The washer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides a bearing surface for rotational movement, controls friction through its material properties, and ensures proper orientation through its asymmetric flange with protrusions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, lowering manufacturing cost while maintaining enhanced endurance performance through integrated design.
4Manufacturing precision
If washer orientation is required, then friction consistency is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric flange design with protrusions that engage with recesses in the boss form provides automatic self-alignment and orientation during assembly. This ensures the washer is always installed in the correct orientation for consistent friction characteristics without requiring complex assembly procedures or additional orientation features, thus improving manufacturing precision while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions on the washer automatically engage with corresponding recesses in the boss form during assembly, providing self-alignment and self-orientation. This self-service mechanism ensures consistent friction characteristics without requiring external alignment tools or complex assembly procedures, improving manufacturing precision while keeping ease of operation high.
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 design achieves enhanced endurance performance, reduced manufacturing costs, and improved friction consistency by simplifying assembly and eliminating the need for orientation and additional components, while allowing for greater tolerance in stack height due to the washer's elasticity.
Implementation Method 1
a first washer engaged between the head of the headed fastener and a surface of the second component adjacent the opening; wherein the boss form includes one or more engagement elements that dig into the first washer upon assembly of the pivot joint to couple the washer to the boss form
Data Source
AI summary
A pivot joint includes a first component (12) having a projecting boss form (16) and a second component (11) having an opening (25) for receiving the boss form (16). A headed fastener (32) and washer (27) engage with the boss form (16), which includes engagement elements (17) that dig into the washer (27) when the joint is assembled.