Plastic Panel Fastener With Frangible Nut for Thickness Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners used in vehicles are complex, heavy, and costly to manufacture, limiting their size compatibility and requiring multiple types for different panel thicknesses, which complicates their use and production.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a base member with a through bore and a receiving aperture, a nut member with radially protruding block members that engage with stop members, allowing axial movement and easy attachment of panels of varying thicknesses, made from integrally molded plastic with resilient legs for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal fasteners with complex design are used, then strength and reliability are improved, but weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, fundamentally altering the weight and manufacturing characteristics while maintaining fastener functionality through redesigned structural elements
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener is divided into distinct functional segments: a base member for panel reception, a nut member for thread engagement, and resilient legs for clamping force, allowing each part to be optimized independently
2Reliability
If metal fasteners with complex design are used, then strength and reliability are improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fastener components (base member, nut member, resilient legs) are merged into a single integrally molded plastic part, eliminating the need for assembly and reducing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener design incorporates universal features that allow it to accommodate panels of varying thicknesses through the movable nut member mechanism, replacing the need for multiple specialized fastener types
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed-size fasteners are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to different panel thicknesses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The nut member is designed to move axially within the base member along the longitudinal axis, transforming the fastener from a static to a dynamic structure that can adapt to different panel thicknesses while maintaining precise engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient legs act as intermediary elements between the base member and the panel, providing biasing force and accommodating variations in panel thickness through their elastic deformation
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 fastener is simpler to use and manufacture, reducing weight and production costs while enabling attachment of panels with different thicknesses, thus increasing its versatility and reducing the need for multiple fastener types.
Implementation Method 1
at least one resilient leg provided on any one of said base member, said first member and said second member and that is arranged laterally with respect to said longitudinal axis and extending into said receiving portion, and configured to biasingly engage with a panel structure received in said receiving portion
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener includes a base member; a first member, on the base member and having a through bore; a second member, on the base member and spaced from the first member to form a receiving portion to receive a panel structure, including an aperture defining an internal surface, the internal surface including at least one stop member protruding radially inwardly, and a nut member, coaxially aligned within and frangibly connected to the internal surface, including at least one block member protruding radially outward from an outer surface of the nut member to stoppingly engage with the at least one stop member. During use, the nut member moves from a first position, where the nut is frangibly connected to the internal surface, to a second position, where the least one block member abuttingly engages with the at last one stop member.