Self-Latching Coupling Clamp for High-Retention Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling technologies face challenges in achieving high retention forces with minimal installation effort, often requiring complex manufacturing processes and compromising on material configuration, which can lead to unintentional detachment of components.
Innovation Solution
A female coupling clamp with resilient strip-type coupling arms that form a receiving space for a coupling head, featuring a neck portion similar to an inverted truncated pyramid, allowing for self-latching and secure fastening in a component opening, while accommodating different component thicknesses and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a plug-in coupling made of elastomer is used to enable easy connecting and releasing, then the ease of operation is improved, but the retention forces are limited and unintentional detachment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling clamp combines metallic spring clips with elastomeric holders to achieve both high retention forces and easy operation. The metal spring clip provides the necessary mechanical strength and retention force, while the elastomer enables flexible insertion and secure latching, resolving the contradiction between retention force and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling clamp is divided into two functional parts: a metallic spring clip component and an elastomeric holder component. Each material performs its optimal function - the metal provides structural integrity and retention force, while the elastomer provides flexibility and ease of insertion, together solving the retention force limitation of pure elastomer designs.
2Reliability
If fastening clamps made of metal are used to provide high stability and resilient tolerance compensation, then the retention forces are improved, but the ease of manufacture and adaptability are reduced due to restriction to limited component thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The spring clip is designed with adjustable geometric parameters including arm length, arm thickness, and curvature radius, which can be modified to accommodate different component thicknesses. This allows the same metallic spring clip design to adapt to various component thicknesses while maintaining high retention forces and connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring clip incorporates dynamic elastic deformation capability through its curved arm structure, allowing it to flex and adapt to different component thicknesses and tolerances. This dynamic behavior enables the metal clamp to compensate for tolerance variations and accommodate different thicknesses while maintaining stable connection.
3Reliability
If a two-piece coupling clamp with angular cross-sectional shape is used to provide high retention forces, then the reliability is improved, but the installation effort increases due to orientation-specific fitting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling clamp uses an asymmetric L-shaped cross-sectional design where the two perpendicular arms provide different functions: one arm engages with the component opening while the other provides retention for the coupling element. This asymmetric design enables high retention forces while maintaining simple installation without rotational orientation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The L-shaped spring clip design serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, enables easy insertion into the component opening, delivers high retention forces, and compensates for tolerances. This multi-functional design achieves both high reliability and ease of installation without requiring specific rotational orientation.
4Reliability
If a housing for plug-in coupling is used to provide structural support and damping, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the housing function with the spring clip itself. The metallic spring clip structure simultaneously provides structural support, retention force, and damping behavior without requiring a separate housing component. This integration eliminates the complex housing structure while maintaining all necessary functional properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential housing functions (structural support and damping) and incorporates them directly into the spring clip design. The spring clip's metallic structure and elastic deformation capability provide both structural integrity and vibration damping without needing a separate elastomeric holder or complex housing assembly.
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 reliable retention forces and universal applicability with reduced manufacturing effort, ensuring consistent hold and tolerance compensation, and preventing unintentional detachment.
Implementation Method 1
at least three resiliently formed strip-type coupling arms
Implementation Method 2
resilient tolerance compensation
Data Source
AI summary
A female coupling clamp which is adapted to hold a coupling head of a male coupling element in an automatic or self-latching manner and to fasten itself in a component opening in an automatic latching manner. For this, the coupling clamp is equipped with at least three resiliently formed strip-type coupling arms which are connected to each other on one side. The respective provided fastening ends of the coupling arms comprise a radially outwardly open receiving groove for an edge of a component opening. A ball head is held in a receiving space with the aid of a neck portion which is similar in shape to an inverted truncated pyramid.