Vehicle Cable Fastener Curved Leg Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners for vehicle actuation cables face challenges such as leg deflection and reduced strength due to small cross-sectional areas, difficulty in molding elongated legs, and non-adjustable height, leading to potential structural weaknesses and limited engagement with vehicle panels.
Innovation Solution
A fastener design featuring a body with an aperture, a first foot with a locking surface, and a leg that is curved to bias the distal portion away from the body, along with a cable engagement member and relief notches, allowing for secure engagement with vehicle panels and adjustable height through rotation, enhancing strength and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the leg cross-sectional area is increased to improve strength, then the fastener strength improves, but the molding difficulty increases and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leg includes a curved portion that arcs around the outer periphery of the body, transforming the leg geometry from straight to curved. This curvature allows the distal portion to be biased away from the body while maintaining structural integrity. The curved design distributes stress more effectively and enables the leg to achieve sufficient strength without requiring an excessively large cross-sectional area, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and molding ease.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the leg length is increased to improve engagement, then the engagement capability improves, but the leg deflection increases and strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved portion of the leg arcs around the body's outer periphery, creating a distributed structural path that reduces deflection. This curvature allows the distal portion to extend further from the body (improving engagement capability) while the curved geometry provides structural reinforcement that prevents excessive deflection and maintains strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg is divided into distinct portions: a proximal portion connected to the body, a curved portion arching around the periphery, and a distal portion extending away from the body. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently - the curved portion provides structural support while the distal portion achieves extended engagement capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fastener height is made adjustable through rotation, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener incorporates a rotatable body that can pivot relative to the leg assembly, transforming a static fastener into a dynamic one with adjustable height. This rotational capability allows the fastener to adapt to different installation requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as the adjustment mechanism is integrated into the body-leg connection rather than requiring separate adjustment components.
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 proposed fastener design provides improved structural integrity, secure cable attachment, and adjustable height, reducing the risk of leg deflection and enhancing the overall reliability and durability of cable fixation to vehicle panels.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the leg is curved around a portion of an outer periphery of the body so that a distal portion of the leg is biased away from the body
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener for a vehicle actuation cable is provided. The fastener may include a body, a first foot, and a leg. The body may define an aperture that is sized to receive the vehicle actuation cable. The first foot may extend from the body and include a locking surface configured to engage a surface adjacent to an attachment aperture. The leg may outwardly extend from the body and a portion of the leg may be curved around a portion of an outer periphery of the body so that a distal portion of the leg is biased away from the body.