Stud Retainer Assembly with Flexible Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stud retainer assemblies face challenges in allowing easy insertion of studs while maintaining a secure connection, particularly when the assembly is removed from a structure, often requiring high insertion forces and risking damage during engagement and disengagement.
Innovation Solution
A stud retainer assembly with a housing and stud-retaining arms featuring a unique tooth configuration, including recessed teeth and a hinge mechanism, allows for low insertion force by flexing during stud engagement and provides a robust connection through angled teeth and stop ledges, ensuring secure retention and easy removal by rotating the stud.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional stud retainer assemblies use rigid teeth configuration, then secure retention is achieved, but high insertion force is required and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the retaining arms flexible rather than rigid. The retaining arms are designed to flex during stud insertion to reduce insertion force, then maintain secure retention when engaged. This dynamic flexibility allows the system to adapt during different operational phases (insertion vs. retention), resolving the contradiction between requiring high strength for retention and low force for insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the retaining arms from rigid to flexible by modifying their structural properties. The retaining arms are designed with specific flexibility characteristics that allow them to deform under insertion force and then maintain engagement. This parameter change enables the system to achieve both low insertion force and secure retention simultaneously.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional stud retainer assemblies use uniform tooth configuration, then manufacturing is simplified, but engagement robustness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating non-uniform tooth configurations on different retaining arms. Specifically, one retaining arm has teeth with different characteristics than the other retaining arm, allowing each arm to engage different portions of the stud threads. This local differentiation improves engagement robustness by distributing the engagement load across multiple tooth-stud interfaces, while still maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized production processes.
3Ease of operation
If conventional stud retainer assemblies allow easy removal, then disengagement is simplified, but unintended stud removal may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by requiring a specific rotational motion pattern for stud removal. The stud must be rotated in a specific direction to disengage from the teeth, creating a periodic action requirement. This ensures that casual or accidental pulling forces cannot remove the stud, while intentional removal through proper rotational action is achieved easily. The teeth are designed to engage the stud threads such that only rotational movement can disengage them.
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 assembly enables easy stud insertion with reduced force and maintains a secure connection, allowing for efficient engagement and disengagement without damaging the stud or retainer, with a force distribution that prevents stud removal unless intended, optimizing retention and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The stud-retaining arm includes a hinge integrally formed with the stud-engagement member. The hinge flexibly connects to a portion of the housing.
Data Source
AI summary
A stud retainer assembly includes a housing defining a stud chamber, and at least one stud-retaining arm disposed within the stud chamber. The at least one stud-retaining arm includes a stud engagement member comprising first and second teeth configured to engage a stud. The second tooth is recessed back with respect to the first tooth.