Vehicle Tether Clip Reusable Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle tether clips are difficult to maintain and result in increased material consumption and manufacturing costs due to complex designs and non-reusable components, making it hard to efficiently separate the front pillar trim from the pillar panel during curtain airbag deployment.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle tether clip design featuring a base part with female screw holes and a sliding part that uses a male screw member to release the latch jaws from the pillar panel, allowing for easy operation and reusability, reducing material usage and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If release operation pieces are added to facilitate base member release, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The release operation pieces are extracted from the base member structure and integrated into the sliding member. Specifically, the sliding member includes a pressing portion that presses the latch protrusion to release the latch engagement, eliminating the need for separate release operation pieces on the base member while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The release function is merged into the sliding member by incorporating the pressing portion that acts on the latch protrusion. This combines the release operation capability with the existing sliding mechanism, reducing overall device complexity and material consumption while preserving ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If base member is designed to be broken for removal, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of substance and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base member is designed with dynamic reversibility through the latch mechanism. The latch protrusion on the base member can engage with or disengage from the latch groove on the sliding member based on operational needs. This allows the base member to be removed and reinstalled multiple times without breaking, eliminating material loss while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding (breaking) the base member for removal, the design allows for recovery and reuse. The reversible latch engagement mechanism enables the base member to be detached and reattached multiple times, significantly reducing material consumption and manufacturing costs associated with replacing broken components.
3Ease of manufacture
If guide plate has unnecessary inner portion, then manufacturing is simplified, but loss of substance and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The unnecessary inner portion is extracted from the guide plate design. The guide plate is configured to extend only between the latch protrusion and the pressing portion, eliminating extraneous material while maintaining the structural integrity and manufacturing simplicity of the component.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate is designed with local quality optimization, extending only where functionally necessary between the latch and pressing portions. This localized material placement maintains ease of manufacture while significantly reducing overall material consumption compared to a fully extended guide plate design.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a vehicle tether clip which enables the coupling of latch jaws (13a) to a mounting hole of a pillar panel to be easily released by fastening a male screw member (30) to female screw holes (14) formed in hooks (13). Accordingly, the maintenance of the tether clip can be improved and the tether clip can be reused since the tether clip is not damaged during disassembly thereof.