Sealing Pin And Grommet Fastener For Two-Directional Offset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pin and grommet fasteners are not fully satisfactory for applications requiring significant pin offset in both X and Y directions, as they often allow water and contaminants to infiltrate through multiple paths, and are difficult to seal due to numerous extending elements that require adjacent openings for molding.
Innovation Solution
A water-resistant pin and grommet fastener design featuring an inner housing with entry ramps and centering blades that allow for pin offset in both X and Y directions while maintaining a sealed interior, using resilient retention wings to prevent water penetration and a cooperating pin retention groove or protrusion for secure pin alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple extending elements are used to enable two-dimensional offset, then pin offset capability is improved, but water infiltration paths increase
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet is divided into an inner housing and an outer housing as separate components. The inner housing contains the pin retention features while the outer housing provides the seal interface with the panel. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while reducing the number of extending elements that would create infiltration paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner housing is nested within the outer housing, with the inner housing positioned inside the enclosed interior of the outer housing. This nested configuration allows the pin retention mechanism to be housed within a sealed outer structure, preventing water infiltration while maintaining offset capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If numerous extending elements are used for two-dimensional offset, then pin alignment flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet is divided into an inner housing and an outer housing as separate components. The inner housing contains the pin retention features while the outer housing provides the seal interface with the panel. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while reducing the number of extending elements that would create infiltration paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin retention receptacle is elongated in the X-direction, providing offset capability in that dimension. The centering blades provide alignment and offset capability in the Y-direction. This use of dimensional elongation and blade mechanisms reduces the need for numerous three-dimensional extending elements.
3Ease of operation
If centering blades are made movable to permit pin offset, then pin insertion ease is improved, but seal reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The centering blades are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to flex and accommodate pin offset in the Y-direction during insertion. This dynamic capability enables easy pin insertion while the blades return to their centering position to maintain proper alignment and seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering blades function as flexible elements that can deflect to accommodate pin misalignment while maintaining their structural integrity. This flexibility allows the blades to adapt to offset conditions without compromising the seal between the outer housing and the panel.
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 design facilitates easy pin insertion with significant offset in both directions while providing a robust water-resistant seal, reducing infiltration paths and maintaining a sealed environment between components.
Implementation Method 1
Resilient retention wings can extend outwardly from the outer housing walls without providing adjacent openings through the outer housing walls and can be designed to couple the outer housing to the first component when the outer housing is mounted within the aperture of the first component
Implementation Method 2
A water-resistant seal that can be positioned between the outer housing flange and the first component and designed to resist water penetration between the outer housing and the first component when the outer housing is coupled to the first component by the plurality of resilient wings
Implementation Method 3
The centering blades can be movable in the Y-direction to permit the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing to move to a non-central position relative to the housing in the Y-direction as a result of the inner housing moving the centering blades during insertion of the pin into the pin retention receptacle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
An inner housing defines (36) a pin (24) retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps (42) extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing (38) for movement in a Y-direction. The outer housing has an enclosed interior (62) defined by outer housing walls extending from an outer housing flange. Resilient retention wings (60) can extend outwardly from the outer housing walls without providing adjacent openings therethrough to facilitate water resistance. A water resistant seal (39) is positionable between an outer housing flange and a first component to seal therebetween when the outer housing is coupled to the first component by the retention wings. Centering blades (64) extend between the inner and outer housings to initially locate the pin retaining receptacle in a central position within the interior in a Y-direction and the centering blades are movable during insertion of the pin into the pin retaining receptacle.