Rotation-Locking Fastener Structure for Short Bumper Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners, such as J-nuts, face challenges in securely attaching components like mudguards to bumpers without relying on the shape of the bumper, as reduced flange length makes it difficult to maintain positional stability during attachment, leading to potential movement of the fastener.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a first and second facing portion connected by a curved portion, with a screw-fixing portion and rotation-preventing protrusions that limit rotation by contacting the attachment support, and a resilient portion to ensure secure attachment regardless of the attachment support's shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the flange length is decreased to improve bumper formability and design, then the bumper can be more easily formed and designed, but the fastener cannot be reliably positioned and may move during attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is segmented into distinct functional elements: facing portions for clamping, a curved portion for flexibility, rotation-preventing protrusions for positioning, and a screw-fixing portion for attachment. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently, enabling reliable fastener positioning through the rotation-preventing protrusions even when the flange length is reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation-preventing protrusions act as intermediary elements between the fastener and the attachment support surface. These protrusions contact the support surface to prevent rotation and maintain positional stability, serving as a mediator that compensates for the reduced flange length and ensures reliable positioning without requiring a long flange.
2Reliability
If a contact portion is added to limit fastener movement, then positional stability is improved, but the fastener cannot be used when the flange does not protrude from the bumper surface
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation-preventing protrusions serve multiple functions: they prevent rotation of the fastener, maintain positional stability, and adapt to different bumper surface configurations. Whether the flange protrudes or not, the protrusions can contact the support surface to achieve positioning, making the fastener universally applicable to various bumper shapes and configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener design incorporates dynamic adaptability through the rotation-preventing protrusions, which can adjust their contact state with the support surface based on the specific bumper configuration. The protrusions enable the fastener to maintain positioning functionality whether the flange protrudes from the surface or remains flush, allowing the fastener to adapt dynamically to different attachment conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the flange length is decreased, then bumper design flexibility is improved, but the area for forming holes or recesses for screw insertion becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The screw-fixing portion is positioned in a location that utilizes the available space efficiently. By placing the screw-fixing portion in one of the facing portions at an appropriate position, the design compensates for the reduced flange surface area, allowing screw insertion and fastener attachment even when the flange length is minimized for design flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The fastener includes: a first facing portion (2) and a second facing portion (3) disposed so as to face each other, ends of the first and second facing portions (2,3) being connected through a curved portion (4); a screw-fixing portion (2a) provided in at least one of the first and second facing portions (2,3) and allowing a screw to be fixed thereto; and a rotation-preventing protrusion (5) provided in one of the first and second facing portions (2,3) and protruding therefrom in a direction from the one toward the other of the first and second facing portions (2,3), the rotation-preventing protrusion (5) being disposed in an area next to the screw-fixing portion (2a) opposite to the curved portion (4).