Stud Fastener Clip With Resilient Locking Fingers and Tolerance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners for attaching or covering parts to motor vehicle bodies face challenges in providing high retention forces while allowing easy, tool-free removal and accommodating dimensional deviations, and are often limited to specific stud geometries.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring resilient locking fingers with adjustable geometry, capable of gripping both threaded and unthreaded studs with varying angles and pitches, and elastic tongues for tolerance compensation, ensuring secure attachment and easy detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a resilient clip is interlocked with a stud to ensure high retention forces, then the attachment strength is improved, but the removal force becomes difficult and may require tools
Solution Approach 1:
The locking finger is designed as a resilient (elastic) component that can dynamically change its state between locked and unlocked positions. When force is applied to the pulling protrusion, the locking finger elastically deforms to release from the stud, enabling tool-free removal while maintaining strong retention during normal use
Solution Approach 2:
The locking finger acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fastener body and the stud. It provides the locking function indirectly by engaging with the stud through the cavity wall, allowing the fastener to achieve high retention forces without requiring direct rigid connection that would make removal difficult
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fastener is designed to accommodate dimensional deviations in parts, then the adaptability is improved, but the retention force may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking finger's position and orientation can change within certain limits due to its resilient nature and the cavity's geometry. This allows the fastener to adapt to dimensional variations in the stud position while maintaining adequate retention force through the elastic engagement mechanism
3Strength
If a fastener is designed to work with specific stud geometries, then the retention force is optimized, but the versatility with different stud types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is designed with a universal geometry that can accommodate different stud types (threaded and unthreaded, different head angles). The locking finger's resilient design allows it to adapt its engagement mode to work effectively with various stud geometries, making the fastener versatile while maintaining reliable retention
Solution Approach 2:
The locking finger provides localized adaptation at the engagement point with the stud. While the overall fastener structure remains standardized, the locking finger can locally adjust its position and deformation to match different stud geometries, enabling compatibility across various stud types
4Reliability
If a fastener uses complex locking mechanisms to ensure reliability, then the retention force is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is extracted as a separate, independent resilient locking finger that moves within the cavity. This simplifies the overall structure by separating the locking mechanism from the main fastener body, making the design more reliable and easier to manufacture while maintaining secure attachment
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 fastener provides reliable high retention forces and low removal forces, accommodating diverse stud geometries and tolerances, facilitating easy installation and maintenance without tools.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient locking finger (36, 50) extending within the cavity (24), the resilient locking finger comprising a first end (38) extending from the main body (19) and a second end (40)
Implementation Method 2
elastic tongues for tolerance compensation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Arrangement with a fastener (16) and fastener (16) for the fastening of an attaching or covering part (18) to a supporting part (12) comprising a stud (14), in particular a part of the body of a motor vehicle. The fastener (16) comprises a main body (19) with a first fastening section (20) comprising a cavity (24) delimited by a cap (26), a first wall (28), a second wall (30) and a third wall (32) adapted to receive the stud (14), the cavity (24) longitudinally extending along a longitudinal axis (X), and at least one resilient locking finger (36, 52) having a first end (38) connected to the main body (19), a second end (40) extending within the cavity (24) and a catching portion (42) adapted to engage with the stud (14) in order to fix the fastener (16) to the supporting part (12). The cavity (24) is laterally and axially accessible, and the catching portion (42) comprises a first and a second fin (44, 46) separated by a gap (48), wherein the first and second fins (44, 46) face the cavity (24) and the fins (44, 46) and the gap (48) are adapted to support a threaded shaft (17) of a stud and/or the head (15) of a stud. The cap (26) is provided on its outside surface, opposite the cavity (24), with an elastic tongue (70).