Push Nut Nested Strut Design for Pull-Out Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug-in nuts made from stamped and bent sheet metal are expensive due to material usage despite achieving high pull-out strength.
Innovation Solution
The plug-in nut design features nested outer and inner struts with a tongue mechanism, allowing for manufacturing from a small-area sheet metal section, reducing material costs while maintaining high pull-out strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional two-legged nut design with outer and inner legs is used, then high pull-out strength is achieved, but material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing inner struts inside the structure formed by outer struts. The inner struts are positioned within the space defined by the outer struts, creating a compact nested configuration that maximizes structural efficiency while minimizing material consumption. This nested arrangement allows both outer and inner struts to contribute to pull-out resistance without requiring excessive material.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg structure is segmented into multiple functional components: outer struts, inner struts, and tongues. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function - outer struts provide structural framework, inner struts provide additional support, and tongues engage with the carrier part. By dividing the leg into these segments, the design achieves high pull-out strength through coordinated action of parts rather than requiring a single massive structure.
2Strength
If more material is used in the leg structure, then pull-out strength increases, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested configuration of inner struts within the outer strut framework allows the entire leg structure to be formed from a single stamped and bent sheet metal piece. This nesting enables efficient material utilization where the sheet metal is folded and shaped to create overlapping but space-efficient structures, reducing the total material required compared to traditional multi-component designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple structural functions into a single integrated leg component. The outer struts, inner struts, and tongues are all formed as one continuous piece of sheet metal through stamping and bending operations. This merging eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly of multiple parts, reducing both material usage and manufacturing complexity while maintaining high pull-out strength.
3Quantity of substance
If nested struts and tongue mechanism are implemented, then material usage is reduced, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the structure appears complex, it is segmented into standardized repeating patterns of outer struts, inner struts, and tongues that can be systematically formed through stamping and bending. Each segment follows a consistent design logic, making the complexity manageable and amenable to automated manufacturing processes rather than requiring complex manual assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple structural elements (outer struts, inner struts, tongues) into a single stamped and bent sheet metal component. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and assembly steps, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity despite the intricate geometry. The single-piece construction eliminates joints and connections, simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving the nested configuration.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A push nut according to the invention has limbs (6, 7) which are formed in each case with outer struts (5), inner struts (17) which are arranged with a spacing between the outer struts (5), and with a tongue (19), which is situated between the inner struts (17) and projects into an interior space (16), for bearing against a shank of a screw which can be screwed into a thread section (4). In this way, a high pulling-out resistance is obtained with a relatively low amount of material expenditure.