Snap-Fit Height Sensor Assembly Without Bolt Mounting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chassis height sensors require bolt installation holes, leading to increased size, weight, and cost, as well as complex mounting processes.

Innovation Solution

A snap-fit height sensor design featuring a sensor body with an engagement seat and a swing arm, allowing for direct snap-fit connection to a mounting support without the need for bolts, thereby reducing the mounting volume, weight, and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bolt installation holes are reserved in the mounting support and sensor housing to enable bolting, then the fixing reliability is improved, but the volume, weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing reliabilityVSAvoidmounting volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the bolts and bolt installation holes from the system, extracting the unnecessary components while maintaining the fixing function through a snap-fit connection mechanism between the mounting support and sensor housing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting support and sensor housing perform their own fastening function through the snap-fit connection, eliminating the need for external bolts and hole structures, thereby reducing volume while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Strength

If two bolts are used for fixing the sensor, then the connection strength is improved, but the number of components and assembly steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mounting support and sensor housing into a single integrated structure through snap-fit connection, combining multiple components into one unified assembly that maintains connection strength while reducing component count

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical bolt-fastening system with a snap-fit connection system, substituting complex mechanical assembly with a simpler elastic deformation-based connection that achieves comparable strength with fewer parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If bolt installation holes are reserved, then the sensor can be securely mounted, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the bolt and hole structures from the design, eliminating the need for precise hole drilling and bolt installation processes, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining mounting reliability through snap-fit connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12320673B2Snap-fit height sensor and height sensor assembly

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH

AI summary

A snap-fit height sensor and a height sensor assembly. The snap-fit height sensor is fixed to a base by means of a mounting support. The height sensor comprises a sensor body and a swing arm capable of swinging relative to the sensor body. An engagement seat is provided on the sensor body, the engagement seat being capable of receiving the mounting support and being fitted and fixed to the mounting support. The snap-fit height sensor and height sensor assembly provided in the present utility model overcome the shortcomings in the prior art, such that the mounting support and sensor have a small mounting volume, a light weight and a low cost, with simple mounting steps, few components and high efficiency.