Pivoting Blind Fastener for Thick-Material One-Side Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blind fasteners, such as the 3M DBI-SALA Toggle Bolt, face challenges in accessing the distal end of a bolt when it is inaccessible or obscured, as they do not allow force application from both sides of the toggle, require a larger hole for installation, and lack orientation indicators, making them inefficient for coupling elements through thick materials like roofing.
Innovation Solution
A blind fastener system comprising a bolt with external threads, a sleeve with a notch, a mount with pivot arms, and a spring-loaded fastening block that pivots from a parallel to a perpendicular orientation relative to the bolt axis, enabling secure engagement with the bolt from one side and accommodating varying material thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional bolt and nut system is used to couple elements through roofing materials, then the fastening strength is sufficient, but the distal end of the bolt becomes inaccessible or obscured making it impossible to attach the nut
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is divided into distinct functional segments: an elongate shaft for penetration, a mounting block for engagement, and a toggle mechanism for securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling the mounting block to be accessed and attached without needing to access the distal end of the shaft.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting block acts as an intermediary component between the shaft and the elements being fastened. It provides a accessible interface for attachment while the shaft extends through the materials to provide structural support, resolving the accessibility issue while maintaining fastening reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a toggle bolt is used to allow force application from both sides, then the fastening flexibility improves, but the toggle protrudes from the outer perimeter requiring a larger hole
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle mechanism is nested within the mounting block structure. The toggle arms rotate within the confines of the mounting block and engage with the shaft internally, rather than protruding outward. This nesting allows the toggle to provide bidirectional force application capability while maintaining a compact profile that fits within the original hole size.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggle mechanism operates in a rotational dimension within the mounting block, allowing force application from multiple directions without increasing the footprint. The toggle arms can rotate to engage forces from different orientations while remaining contained within the same external dimensions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a blind fastener system is designed to accommodate varying material thicknesses, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener incorporates dynamic elements including the toggle mechanism that can rotate and adjust, and the spring that can compress and extend. These dynamic components allow the fastener to adapt to different material thicknesses through mechanical adjustment rather than requiring multiple fixed-configuration components, managing complexity through functional adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener allows for parameter changes in its operational state - the toggle angle, spring compression, and mounting block position can vary to accommodate different material thicknesses. This continuous adjustability through parameter changes provides versatility without requiring discrete complex configurations for each thickness scenario.
4Ease of manufacture
If no orientation indicator is provided on the blind fastener, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the installation precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting block features an asymmetric design with a distinct top surface and side surfaces, creating inherent orientation cues. The toggle mechanism also has an asymmetric configuration that naturally indicates the correct installation orientation. These asymmetric features provide orientation guidance without requiring additional indicator components, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving installation precision.
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 system allows for efficient coupling of elements through thick materials by enabling the fastening block to pivot and engage securely with the bolt from one side, providing orientation indicators and accommodating different material thicknesses, thus overcoming the limitations of existing blind fasteners.
Implementation Method 1
A spring may be coupled between the mount and the fastening block. The spring may be biased to pivot the fastening block about the pivot mount from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the blind fastener.
Data Source
AI summary
A blind fastener may include a bolt. The bolt includes a head, a shank coupled to the head, and a number of external threads formed on the shank. The blind fastener may also include a mount coupled to the bolt, and a fastening block coupled to the mount. The mount may include a body, at least one arm extending from the body, and at least one pivot mount formed on and extending from the arm about which the fastening block pivots.