Plastic Vibration-Insulating Holder With Flexible Wall Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration-insulating holders for oblong objects like pipes in vehicles require significant installation space due to their configuration, which limits their compactness and proximity to adjacent components, and they often necessitate large material usage and complex installation processes.
Innovation Solution
A plastic holder design featuring a base part with a bolt-accommodating opening and a retainer part with a U-shaped cross-section, connected by thin, flexible wall elements, allowing the retainer part to move closer to the base part without hindering vibration insulation, and incorporating a frame-shaped support section with reinforcing ribs for enhanced stability and holding force, while minimizing material usage and installation space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If tubular cushions are used for vibration insulation, then vibration damping is improved, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky tubular cushions with thin, flexible wall elements that connect the retainer part to the base part. These wall elements are sufficiently thin to allow the retainer part to be positioned close to the base part while still providing vibration insulation through their flexible nature, thus reducing installation space without sacrificing vibration damping performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using volumetric cushion elements to using planar/surface-oriented wall elements. This dimensional change allows the vibration-insulating structure to occupy minimal space while maintaining its damping function through the flexibility and surface area of the wall elements rather than through volume.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If spring elements and frame parts are used for vibration absorption, then vibration damping is improved, but overall height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin, flexible wall elements that can be configured in compact arrangements between the retainer part and base part. These elements provide vibration absorption through their flexibility without requiring the vertical space needed for traditional spring elements and frame structures, thus reducing overall height while maintaining vibration damping capability.
3Force
If multiple pipe-holding parts and cushions are used, then holding force is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the wall elements themselves. These wall elements simultaneously provide vibration insulation, structural connection between the retainer part and base part, and support for generating holding forces. This merging eliminates the need for separate cushion components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining or improving holding force capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall elements are designed to perform multiple functions: they act as vibration-insulating elements, structural connectors, and force-transmitting components. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate parts needed in the holder, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or enhancing holding force.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If tubular cushions and connecting elements are used, then vibration insulation is improved, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces material-intensive tubular cushions with thin-walled flexible elements that use significantly less material. These thin wall elements provide sufficient vibration insulation through their flexibility and surface characteristics without requiring the substantial material volume of traditional cushion structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the key parameter of the vibration-insulating elements from thickness/volume to surface area and flexibility. By optimizing the wall elements for these parameters rather than material volume, the design achieves effective vibration insulation with minimal material consumption.
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 holder achieves effective vibration insulation with a low overall height, allowing oblong objects to be attached close to the substrate, ensuring high holding forces, easy installation, and reduced material requirements, while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
the retainer part (3, 4, 5) is connected to the base part (2) by means of thin, flexible wall elements (31, 32) so that the retainer part (3, 4, 5) is secured to the base part (2) without directly touching it
Implementation Method 2
thin, flexible wall elements (31, 32) so that the retainer part (3, 4, 5) is secured to the base part (2) without directly touching it
Implementation Method 3
a resilient retaining finger (29) that protrudes into the recess (27) is provided at the insertion opening (30) and is able to hold the oblong object in the recess (27)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A holder (1) made of plastic for vibration-insulating attachment of an oblong object such as a pipe or the like to a vehicle includes a base part (2) with a bolt-accommodating opening (20) and retainer parts (3, 4, 5) that have a U-shaped retaining section (24, 25) with a recess that has a hollow inner surface and an insertion opening (30) at which a resilient retaining finger (29) is provided, which is able to hold an oblong object in the recess. The retainer parts (3, 4, 5) are connected to the base part (2) by means of thin, flexible wall elements (32, 33, 36, 37, 41, 42). The base part (2) has a frame (9) with openings (15, 16) and the apex regions (27) of the retaining sections (24, 25) on the side opposite from the insertion opening can move into these openings.