T-Shaped Plastic Fastening Insert for Accurate Composite Fixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening systems for fiber-reinforced materials face issues with holding forces, electrochemical corrosion, and inaccurate positioning, particularly when used with carbon fiber reinforced plastics, due to metal components and lack of material-fit connections.

Innovation Solution

A T-shaped fastening insert made of plastic with a disc and shaft configuration, featuring a disrupted structure with passage openings and toothing for secure positioning and mechanical coupling, which prevents direct contact with reinforcing fibers and reduces electrochemical corrosion risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a metallic fastening insert is used, then the connection strength is improved, but electrochemical corrosion occurs when used with carbon fiber reinforced materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidelectrochemical corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive corrosion-resistant materials (stainless steel) with a more economical plastic material that achieves sufficient durability through design features like passage openings and toothing for mechanical anchoring, accepting that the fastening insert serves its purpose without requiring premium corrosion-resistant materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses plastic material for the fastening insert body that combines mechanical anchoring features (passage openings with toothing, abutment faces) to achieve reliable connection strength without metal, avoiding the electrochemical corrosion issue entirely while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If a plate-like wire mesh fastening element is used, then the holding forces are improved, but the continuous face prevents material-fit connection between material layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding forcesVSAvoidmaterial composite integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates passage openings through the insert disc that allow material flow and curing around the fastening insert, enabling material-fit connections between material layers while maintaining structural strength through the anchored fastening insert with abutment faces and toothing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Device complexity

If fastening inserts without position fixing are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but positioning accuracy on and between material layers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening insert structureVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses off-center arrangement of passage openings around the shaft and asymmetric toothing configurations that provide inherent positional reference and fixation during material injection, achieving accurate positioning without additional complex positioning mechanisms or features

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS11319982B2Fastening insert for a component made of plastic, foam or composite material

Publication Date: 2022.05.03 BOLLHOFF VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GMBH

AI summary

A fastening insert made of plastic with a T-shaped configuration consisting of an insert disc and a hollow cylindrical shaft fastened to the insert disc. The insert disc has a plurality of passage openings arranged off-center, at least one of which has an edge projection extending circumferentially continuously or circumferentially in sections, which is formed as toothing and extends on one side or both sides beyond the respective fastening side of the insert disc. This toothing ensures an additional form-fit connection or fixation of the fastening insert in a preferably fiber-reinforced composite material.