Rhombus Nut Fastening Unit With Integrated Spacer and Stop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices for profiles require numerous components and lack a defined distance between parts, making assembly and disassembly cumbersome due to the deformation of O-rings under load, and fail to provide a secure and easy method for fixing components to grooves.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device with a rhombus nut that includes a spacer integrated with the component, allowing the nut to maintain a predetermined distance from the contact surface during disassembly and featuring a stop to limit rotational movement, ensuring secure engagement with the groove walls for easy assembly and disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sliding block with O-ring is used to clamp the plate to the groove, then the plate can be secured against twisting, but the assembly requires numerous components and the distance between parts is not defined due to O-ring deformation under load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring the plate against twistingVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention integrates the spacer function directly into the plate by forming protrusions that extend into the groove, eliminating the need for separate O-rings and sliding blocks. The protrusions themselves provide both the clamping function and the defined distance maintenance, reducing component count while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions act as intermediaries between the plate and groove, providing a defined geometric relationship that maintains consistent distance without relying on deformable O-rings. The protrusions mediate the connection by engaging with the groove walls at predetermined positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the rhombus nut is allowed to move freely during assembly, then it can be positioned correctly, but it may get too close to the contact surface causing assembly issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning the rhombus nutVSAvoidmaintaining proper distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer protrusions are pre-positioned on the plate before assembly, establishing predetermined engagement points in the groove. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the rhombus nut is assembled, it automatically maintains the correct distance from the contact surface without requiring manual adjustment or risk of over-closing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions on the plate self-position the rhombus nut at the correct distance during assembly. The geometric constraint provided by the protrusions engaging the groove walls automatically maintains proper spacing without requiring external control mechanisms or manual intervention to prevent the nut from getting too close.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If the rhombus nut is designed to engage behind retaining webs for secure clamping, then strong fixation is achieved, but the nut requires precise rotational positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping forceVSAvoidrotational positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rhombus nut and groove retaining webs are designed with asymmetric geometries that provide both strong clamping engagement and automatic alignment. The asymmetric shape of the rhombus nut allows it to engage behind the retaining webs at the correct rotational position, providing strong fixation while the geometry itself guides the positioning process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3822495B1Fastening device and fastening unit
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 HETTICH HEINZE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3822495B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3822495B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3822495B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A fastening device for fixing a component (1) to a groove (6) of a profile (5) comprises at least one screw (9) rotatably mounted on the component (1), which engages with a threaded section (12) in a rhombus nut (3) that is rotatable between an assembly position and a disassembly position, wherein at least one stop (15) is provided on the component (1) to limit the rotational movement of the rhombus nut (3) in the disassembly position, wherein at least one spacer (13) is integrally formed with the component (1) and is arranged in the disassembly position between the rhombus nut (3) and a contact surface (2) of the component (1) that can be placed on the groove walls (7) of the groove (6). This allows the fastening device to be easily fixed to a profile, for example, to mount a housing of a locking unit to a track of a sliding door fitting.