Spring-Loaded Rivet With Manipulation Lugs For Low-Force Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for attaching add-on parts to carrier parts often require significant force to remove, even when anchored with a high pull-out force, making them difficult to disassemble without causing damage.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates manipulation lugs and acting elements that prevent spring tongues from engaging in the fixing position, allowing the locking lugs to spring inward during disassembly, enabling the device to be removed with minimal force by deflecting the displacement pin's acting elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the locking lugs are designed to engage behind the carrier part with high pull-out force, then the anchoring strength is improved, but the device becomes difficult to remove and may cause damage during disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchoring strengthVSAvoidease of removal
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spring tongues are designed to be elastically resilient, allowing them to dynamically change their engagement state. During assembly, they engage behind the carrier part to provide high anchoring strength. During disassembly, when the displacement pin is pulled out, the spring tongues can spring inward to disengage from the carrier part, enabling easy removal without damage. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between strong anchoring and easy removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The displacement pin controls the position and engagement state of the spring tongues. By changing the position parameter of the displacement pin (inserted vs. pulled out), the engagement force of the locking lugs changes from high (engaged) to low (disengaged). This parameter change allows the device to transition between strongly anchored and easily removable states, resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the spring tongues are allowed to spring inward in the fixing position, then the device can be easily removed, but the anchoring strength is reduced and the device becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of removalVSAvoidstability of engagement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The displacement pin acts as an intermediary element that controls the engagement state of the spring tongues. When inserted, it prevents the spring tongues from springing inward, ensuring stable engagement. When pulled out, it allows the spring tongues to spring inward for easy removal. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing controlled access to both states without compromising stability during fixing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The displacement pin is inserted in advance during assembly to prevent the spring tongues from springing inward, ensuring stable engagement from the beginning. This preliminary action maintains stability throughout the fixed state. During disassembly, the pin is pulled out in advance to enable the spring tongues to spring inward, preparing the device for easy removal before the actual disengagement occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 configuration allows for easy removal of the device from the carrier part with essentially no force, preventing damage to the attachment and ensuring a secure engagement with high pull-out force during assembly.

Implementation Method 1

elastically resilient spring tongues (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2198170B1Device for fixing an attachment to a supporting part
Publication Date: 2014.01.08 A RAYMOND & CO SCS
  • EP2198170B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2198170B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2198170B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for fixing an attachment to a supporting part. Said device comprises a rivet body (1) with a sinking column (3), on which lugs (8) that project outward are formed on opposing spring-loaded spring tabs (7). A pin (9) that slides into the rivet body (1) locks the engagement of the lugs (8) in a fixing position. A manipulation tab is formed on each spring tab and the pin (9) is provided with a receiving groove for each manipulation tab, the manipulation tabs engaging in said groove when the pin (9) is in assembly alignment with the rivet body (1), thus locking the spring tabs (7). The pin (9) is equipped with elements that act on the manipulation tabs, when said pin (9) is in disassembly alignment, in such a way that the lugs (8) lie at least flush with the exterior of the sinking column (3), thus permitting the device according to the invention to be removed without force.