Two-Piece Fastener Assembly for Low-Clearance Panel Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-piece fastener assemblies for joining a panel with a doghouse to a support with an aperture face clearance issues in automotive applications, where sufficient space is limited, and require consistent coupling and uncoupling forces for repeated access.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece fastener assembly design featuring a doghouse fastener piece with a receiver having an annular wall and plate retention surfaces, and an aperture fastener piece with aperture retention arms and a coupling plate, which allows for flexible coupling and uncoupling through a flexible receiver and coupling plate, minimizing clearance requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If existing two-piece fastener assemblies are used to join a panel with a doghouse to a support with an aperture, then the fastening function is achieved, but a relatively large amount of clearance between the doghouse and the support is required
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver is designed with flexible features including a flexible body, flexible retention arms, and flexible retention lugs that allow dynamic adjustment during coupling and uncoupling operations. This flexibility enables the fastener to function with reduced clearance by adapting to the available space while maintaining consistent coupling and uncoupling forces through elastic deformation of the flexible components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the receiver components by introducing flexibility through material selection and geometric design. The flexible body, retention arms, and retention lugs are designed with specific flexibility parameters that allow them to deform elastically during operation, enabling the fastener to accommodate reduced clearance while maintaining force consistency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing two-piece fastener assemblies are used in automotive applications with limited space, then the fastening function can be achieved, but the clearance between the panel and support is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver incorporates multiple flexible features including a flexible body, flexible retention arms, and flexible retention lugs that enable dynamic adaptation to the limited clearance conditions in automotive applications. These flexible components can deform elastically to accommodate the reduced space while maintaining proper fastening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the physical parameters of the receiver components by introducing controlled flexibility through material properties and geometric design. The flexible body, retention arms, and retention lugs are designed with specific flexibility parameters that allow them to adapt to the constrained clearance environment while maintaining fastening effectiveness.
3Reliability
If existing two-piece fastener assemblies are used, then the fastening function is achieved, but the coupling and uncoupling forces are not consistent for repeated access
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible features of the receiver, including the flexible body, flexible retention arms, and flexible retention lugs, provide consistent elastic deformation during each coupling and uncoupling cycle. This dynamic elasticity ensures that the forces required for repeated access remain consistent, improving both reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces flexibility parameters in the receiver design that create consistent elastic response during repeated operations. The flexible body, retention arms, and retention lugs are designed with specific flexibility characteristics that ensure uniform force requirements for coupling and uncoupling across multiple access cycles.
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
Enables consistent and repeatable coupling and uncoupling forces, reducing the necessary clearance between the panel and support, while accommodating limited space in automotive applications.
Implementation Method 1
One of the receiver and the coupling plate can provide the flexibility necessary to couple and uncouple the coupling plate and the receiver together, which correspondingly couples and uncouples the doghouse fastener piece and the aperture fastener piece together
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of aperture retention arms can extend outwardly away from the aperture shaft and can be designed to retain the support between the aperture retention arms and the intermediate head
Implementation Method 3
The coupling plate can be engaged and retained by the plurality of plate retention surfaces within the receiver to couple the doghouse fastener piece and the aperture fastener piece together
Data Source
AI summary
An aperture fastener piece has an intermediate head and an aperture shaft, including aperture retention arms extending from a side of the intermediate head. A receiver includes an annular wall extending from a base, and a plurality of plate retention surfaces supported by and positioned inwardly of the annular wall. A coupling plate can be engaged and retained by the plurality of plate retention surfaces within the receiver to couple the doghouse fastener piece and the aperture fastener piece together. Each of the receiver and the coupling plate extends from different ones of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece. The coupling plate can extend from a second of the opposite side of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece, and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece.