Spring-Loaded Fastening Clip for Secure Thin Fabric Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clips for fastening elements, such as airbag fabrics to vehicle frames, face challenges in securely attaching thin edges due to the risk of the fabric being pulled over the clip head, especially when passing through holes, leading to inadequate clamping and potential detachment.
Innovation Solution
The clip design features a head with a specific orientation and a clip surface that can move under spring tension, allowing it to retract closer to the longitudinal axis, preventing the fabric from being pulled over and enhancing clamping security, particularly for thin materials like airbag fabrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clip head is designed with a standard orientation, then the clip structure is simple, but the fabric can be pulled over the head leading to inadequate clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The head is designed with an asymmetric orientation where the head surface is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis but inclined at a specific angle. This asymmetric configuration prevents the fabric from being pulled over the head while maintaining secure clamping, resolving the contradiction between clamping security and design simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The head surface is oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, introducing a dimensional change in the orientation. This angular orientation creates a geometric constraint that prevents fabric from sliding over the head, improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If the clip surface is fixed in position, then the clip structure is simple, but the fabric can slip off during insertion and fastening
Solution Approach 1:
The clip surface is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust during the fastening process. The spring mechanism enables the clip surface to move outward during insertion to accommodate the fabric, then retract to secure it, preventing slippage while managing the added complexity through a straightforward elastic mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the clip surface is changed from a fixed parameter to a variable parameter controlled by spring tension. This allows the clip surface to adapt its position during different stages of fastening, improving fabric retention while using a simple spring-based control mechanism.
3Reliability
If the spring tension is increased to secure the fabric, then the fabric is held firmly, but the clip becomes harder to insert and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The spring provides dynamic tension that automatically adjusts during operation. During insertion, the spring allows the clip surface to move outward with minimal resistance. Once fastened, the spring maintains optimal clamping force. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between strong clamping and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism creates a periodic action where the clip surface moves outward during insertion/removal and returns to its clamping position during normal operation. This periodic movement pattern allows easy insertion and removal while maintaining firm clamping force during use.
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
This design effectively prevents the fabric from being pulled over the clip head, ensuring secure attachment and clamping, even when passing through holes, thereby enhancing the stability and reliability of the fastening process.
Implementation Method 1
The clip has a clip surface which can be moved, under the tension of a spring, from a first position along a direction of movement into a position located closer to the longitudinal axis in comparison to the first position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a clip for fastening a first element to a second element, wherein the clip has a head, a tip, a first clip side, and a second clip side. The first clip side extends from the head along a longitudinal axis in the direction of the tip, and the second clip side extends from the head along the longitudinal axis in the direction of the tip and has a clip surface protruding from the first clip side. The clip surface can be moved, under the tension of a spring, from a first position into a position located closer to the longitudinal axis than the first position. The head surface merges into a first side wall via a first bending section which is bent around a first bending axis, wherein the first bending axis is at an angle of >0° to <180° to the longitudinal axis.