Quick-disconnect fastening system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening systems, such as quarter-turn fasteners and cable ties, are difficult to disconnect and not reusable after disconnection, posing challenges in assembly and disassembly, especially in high-volume factory settings where repetitive motion injuries can occur.
Innovation Solution
A quick-disconnect fastener assembly featuring a cylindrical shank with annular grooves and elongated ribs, combined with a fastener disc that engages in a locked position via friction fit and can be released by rotating an eighth-turn, allowing easy removal and reassembly without the need for full rotation, utilizing deflectable tabs and a disassembly tool for efficient disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional threaded fasteners or quarter-turn fasteners are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but disconnection becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener system transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic release state through rotation. The deflectable tabs dynamically change position during rotation, moving from engaged with grooves (locked) to deflected away (released), enabling quick disconnection while maintaining secure attachment when engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener operates through periodic action of rotation - a small rotational movement (eighth-turn) repeatedly transitions the fastener between locked and released states. This periodic rotational action provides both secure attachment and easy disconnection without requiring complex mechanisms.
2Reliability
If full rotation is required for disconnection, then secure locking is maintained, but repetitive motion injuries occur in high-volume factory settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses partial action - only an eighth-turn rotation is needed to release the fastener, which is sufficient to deflect the tabs from the grooves. This partial rotational action maintains locking security when engaged but eliminates the need for full rotation that causes repetitive motion injuries in high-volume factory settings.
3Reliability
If a friction fit is used for retention, then secure attachment is achieved, but disassembly becomes difficult without tools
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable tabs act as intermediaries between the friction fit and the release mechanism. During assembly, the tabs engage with grooves providing secure retention. During disassembly, the tabs serve as the intermediary element that, when rotated, deflect away from the grooves to enable tool-free removal, thus bridging the gap between secure attachment and easy disassembly.
4Reliability
If complex rotation mechanisms are used, then secure locking is achieved, but assembly efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into simple components: grooves in the shank and deflectable tabs on the disc. This segmentation creates a reliable locking mechanism through the simple interaction of these segmented elements, eliminating the need for complex rotation mechanisms and improving assembly efficiency.
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 provides a self-locking, easily removable fastening system that reduces the risk of repetitive motion injuries by allowing quick disassembly with simplified geometry, enabling efficient attachment and detachment of components without the need for complex rotation, thus improving assembly efficiency and worker safety.
Implementation Method 1
The fastener disc is retained on the fastener portion in a locked position when the contact surface engages one of the plurality of grooves with a friction fit
Implementation Method 2
the elongated ribs have drafted sides that act as a cam surface when the disc is rotated
Implementation Method 3
in the release position, the rib causes the contact surface to deflect so that the diameter of the central opening is greater than the cylindrical shank
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener assembly is provided having a cylindrical shank with a plurality of annular grooves formed along a length of the shank. A plurality of elongated ribs extends perpendicular to the grooves along the length. A fastener disc is provided with a central opening with a diameter less than a cylindrical shank diameter wherein an inner edge of the central opening includes a contact surface. The fastener disc is retained on the fastener portion in a locked position when the contact surface engages one of the plurality of grooves with a friction fit. The fastener disc is rotated to a release position so that the elongated rib contacts the inner edge thereby releasing the contact surface from the grooves.