Viscoelastic Washer Fastener Installation Without Surface Defacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for installing fasteners often result in surface defacement, particularly on decorative surfaces, as they lack a reliable and efficient means to prevent damage during the installation process.
Innovation Solution
The use of an annular washer made of viscoelastic material, with specific dimensional relationships to the fastener, that expands radially to protect the surface from damage when the fastener's head is driven into place, allowing for efficient installation without surface defacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If powered tools are used to drive fasteners into place, then installation speed and efficiency are improved, but the risk of defacing or damaging the exposed surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a driver as an intermediary component between the powered tool and the fastener head. This driver features a bearing surface that contacts the fastener head and a protective surface that faces the exposed surface, preventing direct contact between the tool and the surface. The driver acts as a mediator that transfers the driving force while protecting the decorative surface from damage during powered installation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If protective material is placed on the forward part of the powered tool and/or on the head of the fastener, then surface protection is improved, but device complexity and skill requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective function and the driving function into a single integrated driver component. The driver merges the protective surface that shields the exposed surface with the bearing surface that transfers driving force to the fastener head. This unified design eliminates the need for separate protective materials and simplifies the installation process, requiring minimal skill while providing reliable surface protection.
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
This method enables fasteners to be reliably and efficiently installed without damaging the surface, optimizing speed and reducing the risk of damage, thus enhancing operational efficiency in various applications.
Implementation Method 1
an annular washer of a viscoelastic material having an inner opening larger than a diametric dimension of the shank and smaller than a diametric dimension of the enlarged head of the fastener... to cause the enlarged head of the fastener to viscoelastically expand the washer radially outwardly away from the shank of the fastener
Data Source
AI summary
A method of installing a fastener into a surface without defacement of the surface utilizes an annular washer of a viscoelastic material placed about the shank of the fastener such that, upon driving the fastener into the surface via a driving tool, the fastener head clamps against the washer to cause it to viscoelastically expand radially outwardly from the fastener shank until the inner opening of the washer expands to approximately the diametric dimension of the enlarged head of the fastener, whereupon the washer can be removed from the fastener. The interposition of the washer between the driving tool and the surface protects the surface against defacement.