Spring Steel Retainer for B-Pillar Appliqué Torque Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fastener designs for connecting automobile components, such as the B-pillar and appliqué, face challenges in limited packaging space, leading to surface deformations, fragile tooling, and breakage, as well as inadequate strength and torque resistance, which existing designs like molded-in features, insert molding, and spring steel nuts fail to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A hat-shaped spring steel retainer with a single thread engagement feature and arcuate ribs provides a robust connection between the B-pillar and appliqué, minimizing the risk of surface deformations and breakage, while allowing for design flexibility and prevailing torque resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If molded-in features such as doghouse or threaded boss are used to connect components in limited space, then connection is achieved, but surface deformations (read conditions) occur due to cooling temperature differences
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the threaded engagement feature from the molded resin part and places it on a separate spring steel retainer component. This eliminates the read condition problem by removing the thermal mass difference between the molded feature and substrate, while maintaining the connection capability through the spring steel retainer's threaded hole.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is segmented into multiple components: the molded feature in the resin part, the spring steel retainer with threaded hole, and the fastener. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, preventing surface deformations while achieving secure connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If molded-in threaded boss is used to provide threadable connection, then screw attachment is enabled, but the feature tends to break increasing scrap
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded hole is extracted from the molded resin feature and relocated to the spring steel retainer. This transfers the threaded connection capability to a more durable component that can withstand higher stresses without breaking, reducing scrap while maintaining adaptability for screw attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system uses composite construction combining molded resin features with spring steel retainer. The spring steel material provides superior strength and durability for the threaded engagement, preventing breakage while maintaining the threaded connection capability.
3Volume of moving object
If limited packaging space is used between B-pillar and appliqué, then vehicle size is reduced, but tooling condition becomes fragile and minimum workable size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex threaded engagement feature is extracted from the molded tooling and placed on a separate spring steel retainer. This simplifies the molded feature to a basic geometric form that is robust and easy to mold, reducing tooling complexity and fragility while maintaining connection functionality in limited space.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of molding the threaded feature directly into the resin part (which creates fragile tooling), the invention inverts the approach by providing the threaded feature on the spring steel retainer that attaches to the molded feature. This reverses the complexity from tooling to a separate component.
4Ease of manufacture
If molded-in features are used for fastener connection, then connection is achieved, but differences in mass/volume cause cooling temperature differences leading to read conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded engagement feature is extracted from the molded resin structure and placed on the spring steel retainer. This eliminates the mass/volume difference between the molded feature and substrate, preventing cooling temperature differences and resulting read conditions while maintaining fastener connection capability.
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 simplifies mold design, reduces the risk of surface imperfections, enhances torque resistance, and provides a robust connection without introducing read conditions or breakage, ensuring reliable attachment in limited packaging spaces.
Implementation Method 1
a hat-shaped spring steel employing a single thread engagement feature to engage a secondary fastener
Implementation Method 2
hat-shaped spring steel
Implementation Method 3
provides a method of prevailing torque
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer for limited space attachment of a vehicle part with a class A surface to a vehicle. The retainer has an attachment base operable for being connected to a rib of the vehicle part. A securing portion including an aperture for receiving a fastener is provided in the retainer. The retainer includes at least one sidewall connected between the attachment base and the securing portion. The sidewall spaces the securing portion from the attachment base to allow for insertion of the fastener and provide predetermined torque tension characteristics.