Plastic Component Anchoring Section Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in the automotive sector is to simplify and expedite the production of fiber-reinforced plastic components by establishing a stable and secure connection between the base body and holding elements, as existing methods like gluing or drilling complicate the process and weaken the components.

Innovation Solution

A plastic component with a base body and holding element featuring an anchoring section formed by interconnected balls, which is embedded or integrated into the base body in a form-fitting and material-locking manner, allowing for a reliable connection without additional post-processing steps, and enabling the holding section to be assembled after production, thus maintaining a smooth surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If retaining elements are attached by welding or soldering to plastic components, then the connection strength is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases and additional processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining element and base body are merged into a single integrated component during the molding process. The retaining element is formed directly as part of the base body structure, eliminating the need for separate attachment operations like welding or soldering, while maintaining strong mechanical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining element is pre-formed within the base body during the initial molding process. The cavities and structural features for the retaining element are created simultaneously with the base body, so no additional processing steps are needed later to attach or prepare the retaining element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If retaining elements are glued onto the plastic component, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the connection strength becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing complexityVSAvoidconnection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining element is combined with the base body as an integral structure formed during molding. This merging provides both mechanical strength through the solid plastic material and manufacturing simplicity through the single-step formation process, overcoming the weaknesses of both separate attachment methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3094868B1Plastic component
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP3094868B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3094868B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~7b

AI summary

The invention relates to a plastic component (10), comprising a main part (12) and a holding element (18) having an anchoring portion (24) and a holding portion (20), wherein the diameter of the anchoring portion (24) is greater than that of the holding portion (20) and is embedded in or integrated into the main part (12) in an interlocking and/or integrally bonded manner and the holding portion (20) protrudes from the main part (12).