Two-Piece Fastener With Locating Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fasteners, such as nuts and bolts, rivets, and push-pins, are time-consuming to use, can damage surfaces, and may lead to premature failure due to rust and improper positioning, resulting in weak attachments between members.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece fastener comprising a stud member with locating features and slanted ridges, and a nut member with projecting members, which provides high back pressure for secure attachment without requiring tools and minimizes surface damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional push-pins are used to attach members, then the members can be joined together, but the back pressure is reduced due to material shearing from rough edges and burrs, causing premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates guiding features on the push-pin and corresponding guiding structures in the through-opening before the main fastening action. This preliminary guiding action ensures proper alignment and prevents misalignment damage during insertion, thereby maintaining fin integrity and back pressure while ensuring reliable attachment.
2Productivity
If conventional push-pins are inserted through rough edges with burrs, then the members can be attached, but material is sheared from the fin surfaces, creating reduced back pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guiding features as an intermediary element between the rough edges of the through-opening and the fins of the push-pin. These guiding features act as a mediator that protects the fins from direct contact with rough edges, preventing material shearing while maintaining the speed advantage of push-pin installation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional push-pins are used without proper positioning features, then the installation is simple, but the positioning is improper, resulting in weak attachment between members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates guiding features that perform the preliminary positioning action automatically during insertion. This eliminates the need for separate positioning steps while ensuring proper alignment, thereby maintaining installation simplicity while significantly improving attachment reliability through consistent proper positioning.
4Strength
If conventional fasteners like nuts and bolts are used, then strong attachment can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and requires tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the push-pin with self-aligning guiding features that automatically position the fastener correctly during insertion without requiring external tools or complex operations. This self-service mechanism achieves strong attachment comparable to nuts and bolts while maintaining the speed advantage of tool-free installation.
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 fastener securely holds members together with high back pressure, preventing premature failure and ensuring proper positioning, thus offering a durable and efficient attachment solution.
Implementation Method 1
a projecting member of the two projecting members is flattened for exerting a back pressure on a member of the at least two members, thereby assembling and attaching the first member with the second member
Implementation Method 2
a pair of ridges of the plurality of ridges rests on a portion of the central element, when the stem is received through the aperture of the central element, and a projecting member of the two projecting members is flattened for exerting a back pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a fastener that comprises a stud member and a nut member. The stud member includes a base portion, a stem, a plurality of locating features, and, a plurality of slanted ridges. The stem has a head portion and a body portion, where the body portion is positioned on the base portion for enabling the stem to extend vertically from the base portion. The plurality of locating features extends from the body portion, and is disposed on the base portion. The plurality of slanted ridges extends from the stem. The nut member includes a central element configured to have two projecting members extending opposite to each other from a periphery of the central element. The central element comprises an aperture therewithin for receiving the stem therethrough and for interlocking the nut member with the stud member to retain the stud member at a locked configuration.