Sealed Coupling Fastener Assembly for Low-Force Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener assemblies face issues with moisture permeation, high installation force requirements, and alignment difficulties, leading to leakage, reduced retention force, and premature wear, especially in applications like vehicle components.
Innovation Solution
A fastener assembly design featuring a body with a flange and a gasket, including retaining arms and engagement features that securely couple with a clip, providing a sealing rim and apertures to enhance retention strength and facilitate easy installation, while the gasket and body materials ensure a liquid-tight seal and reduced installation stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If known fastener assemblies are used to secure components, then components can be connected together, but moisture can permeate through channels and gaps leading to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
A gasket is introduced as an intermediary sealing element between the fastener body and the panel. The gasket includes a sealing rim that engages with a sealing surface in the panel, creating a moisture barrier that prevents water permeation through the fastener assembly while maintaining the structural connection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket is made from a flexible material that can deform to conform to the sealing surface in the panel. This flexibility allows the sealing rim to maintain intimate contact with the panel surface, ensuring a reliable moisture barrier even with manufacturing tolerances or surface irregularities.
2Force
If known fastener assemblies are used, then components can be secured, but a relatively high amount of force is required for installation which reduces retention force
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener body includes resilient arms that can flex during installation and then retain the panel in a deformed state. The resilient nature of these arms allows for easier installation with lower force while maintaining strong retention through the elastic deformation and recovery characteristics of the material.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener utilizes material properties and geometric design to change the force requirements during different phases of operation. The resilient arms are designed to require low force during insertion (when they can flex) but provide high retention force once engaged (when elastic recovery creates clamping force).
3Ease of operation
If blind connection is made between panels, then fastening can be achieved, but it is difficult to align the edges of the fastener leading to assembly difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener body includes asymmetric alignment features such as a tapered leading edge or guide surfaces that naturally orient the fastener correctly as it approaches the panel. This asymmetric geometry provides mechanical guidance that ensures proper alignment during blind insertion, preventing misalignment even when the installer cannot visually verify positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener is pre-configured with alignment features built into its structure before installation. These features automatically perform the alignment function during the insertion process itself, eliminating the need for separate alignment steps or visual verification by the installer.
4Duration of action of moving object
If known fasteners are used, then components can be fastened, but performance degrades after repeated assembly causing fasteners to be discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is designed with resilient arms that can be deformed during installation and then recover to their original shape. This recovery capability allows the fastener to be reused multiple times while maintaining consistent retention force, as the elastic material returns to its initial state after each engagement cycle rather than accumulating permanent deformation.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener assembly is configured to be securely coupled with one or more components. The fastener assembly includes a body including a flange, and a gasket that is secured to the flange. The body is configured to securely couple to a clip. The body includes one or more features that are configured to cooperate with one or more reciprocal features of the clip to increase retention strength.