U-Shaped Fastening Element With Deformable Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening elements are not suitable for attaching metal sheets or other loads to flanges of varying thicknesses and widths, often requiring precise positioning and limited in their ability to handle oscillating loads, with many designs being material-intensive and having restricted applications.
Innovation Solution
A U-shaped fastening element with a rectangular base and legs, featuring support elements of different heights and deformable tabs to secure a screw nut, allowing for flexible alignment and increased contact pressure, manufactured from sheet metal for enhanced stability and adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If elastic deformation of the fastening clip is used to clamp and hold the floor panel, then the floor panel can be fastened to the flange, but the contact pressure that can be achieved is limited and the clip can only be used to a limited extent for flanges of different thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fastening mechanism from elastic deformation to mechanical deformation through a deformation element. This allows adjustment of the contact pressure independently from the fastening force, enabling adaptation to different flange thicknesses while achieving sufficient contact pressure for metal sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation element can be adjusted during installation to match different flange thicknesses, providing dynamic adaptability. The system transitions from a fixed elastic deformation to an adjustable mechanical deformation that can accommodate varying dimensions.
2Ease of manufacture
If a simple U-shaped fastening element is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the stability is not great and the forces that can be used to press the wood fiber board against the flange are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening element is segmented into distinct functional parts: a stable U-shaped base body and a separate deformation element. This segmentation allows the base body to provide structural stability while the deformation element provides adjustable fastening force, achieving both simplicity and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the stable U-shaped structure with an additional deformation element to combine the advantages of structural simplicity with enhanced stability and adjustable pressing force, overcoming the limitations of a simple U-shaped design.
3Reliability
If existing fastening elements are used, then they can fasten components to flanges, but they require precise positioning and have limited ability to handle oscillating loads
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation element provides dynamic adjustment capability that allows the fastening element to adapt to positioning tolerances and oscillating loads. This dynamic feature reduces the need for precise positioning while maintaining reliability under varying load conditions.
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 fastening element provides stable and universal attachment for metal sheets to flanges of different dimensions, accommodating various thicknesses and widths, and can handle oscillating loads with increased contact pressure and non-slip functionality, ensuring secure fastening without the need for precise positioning.
Implementation Method 1
The bridge part (2) is formed from an elastic material or is elastically deformable, in that the bridge part (2) can be elastically deformable at least in the area of the base (3)
Implementation Method 2
contact surfaces pointing in the direction of the legs on the areas protruding beyond the width of the base, which are designed to correspond to the contact surfaces located on the supporting elements
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a fastening element (1) for fastening metal sheets (11) or other loads by means of a fastening means (15) that can engage on or in the metal sheet (11) to be fastened or the load to be fastened or is arranged on said metal sheet/load. The fastening element (1) comprises a bridge part (2) that has a U-shaped cross-section and includes a rectangular base (3), two limbs (4) integrally moulded with the longitudinal sides of the base (3), and, on the end faces of the U-shaped bridge part (2), two support elements (5.1, 5.2) of different heights facing into the opposite direction of the limbs (4). The support elements (5.1, 5.2) project at both sides beyond the width of the base (3) and, in the regions projecting beyond the width of the base (3), have contact faces (6) facing in the direction of the limbs (4). The limbs (4) project beyond the length of the base (3) and, in the regions projecting beyond the length of the base (3), have contact faces (6) facing in the direction of the support elements (5.1, 5.2). Said contact faces (6) are designed to correspond to the contact faces (6) located on the support elements (5.1, 5.2). A bore (8) is located in the base (3) of the bridge part (2).