Tool-Free Screw Latching Structure for Reusable Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screws require washers or adhesives for locking, which are prone to loss, abrasion, and lack durability, and adhesive locking is time-consuming and not suitable for repeated assembly/disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A tool-free screw design with a sleeve and stud featuring multiple latching mechanisms that allow for secure locking and unlocking without tools, ensuring durability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a washer is used to prevent screw loosening, then locking force is improved, but the washer is prone to loss and has limited service life due to abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the washer and screw into a single integrated component where the washer portion is permanently attached to the screw shaft. This integration ensures that the washer cannot be lost separately and both components function together as one unit, resolving the issue of washer loss and improving overall reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw is divided into distinct functional portions: a screw shaft for fastening and a washer portion for locking. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a unified structure that prevents component loss.
2Reliability
If adhesive dispensing is used to fix the screw, then locking force is improved, but repeated assembly and disassembly cannot be achieved and curing time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces chemical bonding (adhesive) with a mechanical latching system consisting of latching protrusions and grooves. This mechanical system provides strong locking force while allowing for repeated assembly and disassembly operations without curing time requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism is designed to be dynamic and reversible, allowing the screw to transition between locked and unlocked states multiple times. The latching protrusions can engage and disengage repeatedly, enabling easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining strong locking force when engaged.
3Force
If a washer is used to increase locking force, then frictional force is improved, but the washer lacks abrasion resistance and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the washer and screw into a single component, the invention ensures that the washer portion cannot suffer from wear-induced loosening in the same way a separate washer would. The integrated structure maintains consistent frictional force and locking performance throughout the service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated screw-washer component can be manufactured as a single piece from materials with optimized properties, combining the friction characteristics needed for locking with the abrasion resistance required for durability. This eliminates the wear interface between separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool-free screw is used to lock an object. The object has a second latching mechanism. The tool-free screw includes a sleeve and a stud arranged coaxially with each other, wherein the sleeve movably sleeved on the stud, the sleeve has a first latching mechanism and a fourth latching mechanism, and the stud has a third latching mechanism. The first latching mechanism is used to lock or unlock the second latching mechanism, and the third latching mechanism and the fourth latching mechanism are used to switch between different latching states. An accessory of tool-free screw is also disclosed.