Planar Fastener Clip and Pin for Variable-Thickness Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening devices for planar elements in the automotive field require excessive assembly force when the thickness of the elements exceeds a certain limit, making installation and removal complicated due to the variability in thickness.
Innovation Solution
A fastening device comprising a metal clip with a planar head and lateral upright members, and a plastic pin with flexible bridging pieces that deform to accommodate varying thicknesses, allowing for reduced assembly force and improved ease of installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid pin is used to fasten planar elements, then the fastening structure is simple and strong, but the assembly force becomes excessive when the thickness of the planar elements exceeds a determined thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is designed with flexible bridging pieces that can dynamically adapt their shape during assembly. These bridging pieces include elastic deformation zones that allow the pin to bend and flex, enabling the assembly force to vary according to the thickness of the planar elements being fastened, rather than requiring excessive force for all thickness variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin's physical parameters are changed by incorporating flexible bridging pieces with specific elastic properties. These bridging pieces have controlled flexibility that allows the pin to adjust its effective stiffness based on the thickness of the planar elements, thereby reducing the assembly force required while maintaining adequate fastening strength.
2Reliability
If the assembly force is increased to ensure secure fastening, then the fastening reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible bridging pieces provide dynamic adaptation during both installation and removal operations. During installation, they flex to accommodate thickness variations, making insertion easier. During removal, their elastic properties allow controlled deformation that facilitates extraction without requiring excessive force, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining fastening reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin is segmented into multiple functional zones including rigid sections for structural strength and flexible bridging pieces for adaptation. This segmentation allows different parts of the pin to perform different functions - the rigid portions maintain fastening reliability while the flexible portions ease the operation during installation and removal.
3Strength
If the pin is made completely rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the fastening strength is sufficient, but the adaptability to varying thicknesses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pin employs local quality by having different regions with different mechanical properties. The bridging pieces are designed with specific elastic characteristics in certain zones while maintaining rigid connections at other points. This allows the pin to have localized flexibility for adapting to thickness variations while preserving overall structural integrity and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin can be viewed as a composite structure combining rigid and flexible elements. The flexible bridging pieces act as one component with elastic properties, while the rigid portions serve as another component. This composite approach enables the pin to simultaneously achieve adaptability to varying thicknesses and maintain sufficient structural integrity for reliable fastening.
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 solution effectively reduces the assembly force required across different thicknesses, ensuring secure fastening and easy disassembly by using flexible bridging pieces that adapt to thickness variations, maintaining a strong retaining force without excessive force dependency.
Implementation Method 1
the pin comprises at least one flexible bridging piece having a central portion, which is connected to a main body of the pin by two flexible portions, the flexible bridging piece being intended to come into contact with a lateral upright member of the clip in order to be force-locked at the second support point and to hold the assembled planar elements together
Data Source
AI summary
A fastening device for attaching an assembly comprising at least two planar elements, comprises: A clip for insertion into openings in the planar elements for holding the planar elements together including a planar head having a central opening for providing access to an inner cavity of the clip; two lateral upright members having a first end that is secured to the head and a second end, the second ends being joined to each other; and a pin that is intended to be inserted into an inner cavity in the clip in order to lock the assembly. The pin comprises at least one flexible bridging piece having a central portion that is connected to a main body of the pin by means of two flexible portions, and the pin contacts a lateral upright member of the clip to lock and hold the assembled planar elements together.